11 November 2004	Thursday	27 Ramazan 1425

BAIJI, Nov 10: Eleven people have been killed in clashes between guerillas and US and Iraqi forces in the northern town of Baiji and a curfew imposed, a local official said on Wednesday.

"There were 10 (civilians) killed, including three women, and 26 wounded, including two policemen, five children and a woman," said Dr Hussein al-Juburi at Baiji general hospital, 200 kilometres (130 miles) north of Baghdad.

A national guardsman was also killed and four others wounded when a roadside bomb detonated as their convoy passed close to Baiji, said national guard commander Mohammed Jassem.

Municipal council leader Hamed Hachem said that "a curfew has been in effect in town since midday and for an indefinite period, until order is re-established."

Road blocks have been set up on roads into the town and troops are patrolling the streets to enforce the curfew, he said.

Rebels began skirmishes with Iraqi national guardsmen in the town centre on Tuesday afternoon, following a mortar attack on national guardsmen and US troops.

Clashes on Wednesday involving light arms and mortars wounded four people and damaged a mosque, a petrol station and a mobile telephone relay post, local police commander Mezher Mohammed said.

Police chief Ismail Mahmud al Juburi said he thought the fighting would continue.

"I'm expecting more violence because of what's happening in Fallujahh," he said, referring to a massive assault on the rebel stronghold west of Baghdad begun by US and Iraqi forces on Monday.

BOMB BLAST: A car bomb exploded near an Iraqi police checkpoint in eastern Baghdad on Wednesday, killing seven people.

Witnesses said the blast, near the culture ministry in the Zayouneh area, destroyed several cars and gouged a hole in the road.

The impact shattered nearby shop fronts, showering the street with broken glass. The charred car engine lay smouldering in the street on which vendors usually peddle snacks and cigarettes.

A police officer at the scene said casualties included both police and civilians.

"We took five women to hospital from here," said one man, whose house was damaged by the blast. It was unclear if the women were wounded or died.

US troops and Iraqi police and National Guard sealed off the area. -AFP/Reuters

20 guards captured

BAGHDAD: Iraqi guerillas released a video on Wednesday showing what they said were 20 Iraqi national guards they had captured in Fallujah.

The video showed masked men pointing rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers at a group of men with their backs to the camera wearing National Guard uniforms. -Reuters