British soldiers patrol in Ahmed Al-Ahamadi, 30 km southwest of Baghdad, where three of their colleagues were killed in a suicide attack on Thursday. (AFP)

JEDDAH/FALLUJAH, 6 November 2004 — People were streaming out of the rebel town of Fallujah west of Baghdad all day and night yesterday as US Marines and Iraqi troops moved into position for an all-out assault.

According to the Iraqi Defense Ministry, the city’s population, estimated at 280,000 before the war had dropped to under 30,000 yesterday. Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan said the town was “completely encircled” with five passage points kept open for inhabitants who wished to flee to safety.

As heavy Abrams tanks moved into position, the long expected attack seemed imminent. The combat field hospital on the chief US base near Fallujah has set up a morgue and doubled medical staff and supplies in preparation for an expected stream of casualties. And in Brussels, Iraq’s interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi told European Union leaders that his government was determined to pacify Fallujah and two other Sunni cities ahead of his country’s first free elections in January. Allawi said that 15 of Iraq’s 18 provinces were already peaceful and stable enough to hold elections and that the remaining three will also be brought under government control “sooner than many think.”

Regaining control of Fallujah is the first test of Iraq’s newly crated army that is sending its best unit to spearhead the attack.

“Our troops are ready and morale is high,” Shaalan said. “Foreign terrorists are holding our people in Fallujah hostage. We are going to liberate them.”

In preparation for the offensive, US jets launched multiple airstrikes early yesterday against insurgent positions in Fallujah, while US soldiers sealed off roads into Fallujah. The Iraqis also closed off a crossing point from Syria, Syrian officials said.

The US airstrikes hit a system of barriers rigged with bombs in the southeastern part of Fallujah, a command post, suspected fighting positions and a weapons cache, said Lt. Nathan Braden, of 1st Marine Division. Explosions could be heard in the southern part of Fallujah in the afternoon.

Insurgents killed two American Marines and wounded four others in fighting west of Baghdad, the US military said yesterday. Three British soldiers were killed Thursday southwest of Baghdad and eight others were wounded when a suicide driver blew up his vehicle at a checkpoint. An Iraqi translator also died in the attack.

It was the single biggest loss of life for the British since August 2003 and came only days after British troops redeployed from the relative safety of the south to the base close to Baghdad in order to free up US troops for a Fallujah offensive.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned the coalition forces that new military campaigns in Fallujah and other insurgent strongholds could jeopardize upcoming elections.

In the letter dated Oct. 31, Annan told American, British and Iraqi leaders that the United Nations wants to help prepare for the elections, but fears a rise in violence could disrupt the process.

Annan warned that major military assaults, “in which the main burden seems bound to be borne by American forces,” may discourage Iraqis from participating in the vote.

Annan urged the coalition to give more time for dialogue to succeed and offered U.N. help. “I, and all my colleagues at the United Nations Secretariat, want to help,” Annan wrote. “But we need a conducive environment if elections are to produce a positive effect.” The head of the Iraqi election commission said national balloting would be held in the last week of January but no precise date had been set, denying media reports that they were set for Jan. 27.

The commission also has said that Iraqis who live outside the country will be allowed to vote. Commission spokesman Fareed Ayar said the government planned to establish voting centers in countries with large Iraqi populations. Details of how many centers, where they would be located and which countries would be involved have not been finalized, he said.