Fierce battles continued Tuesday as the US-Iraqi forces penetrated into the Iraqi city of Fallujah, and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi urged militants in the city to lay down their weapons.

The US Marines backed by the Iraqi forces punched into Fallujahfrom the northwestern Jolan district and the al-Mualemeen districtin the east, said witnesses.

However, the US-led forces faced stiff resistance from the fighters defending the city, which forced the US troops to withdraw from several positions in the battlefield.

Roofs of high buildings were turned into fighting positions forsnipers from both sides shooting at anything moving, even animals.

Witnesses said they saw five tanks were set ablaze in a public field near the city center and another tank was also on fire in a nearby main street.

Early Tuesday, US planes bombed a government clinic in the center of Fallujah, causing dozens of casualties, including at least 20 medics.

"Over 20 medics were killed in the air raid and dozens others, including wounded people, were killed as a result of the US raid on the city early Tuesday," said local residents.

The sources said the one-story Community Clinic, which had beenreceiving wounded insurgents and civilians, was totally destroyed.

The building was one of the three Community Clinics erected in the city to substitute the main hospital, which was seized by US and Iraqi forces Monday night, just hours before a full-scale offensive began.

Medics in the city also said that their clinics were running out of medical supplies and the only ambulance they had was hit byUS fire.

Early Monday, US Marines backed by Iraqi troops started an all-out offensive in a bid to regain control of Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, as part of the government's efforts to pacify security situation ahead of the January elections.

Meanwhile, Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on Tuesday called on militants in Fallujah to lay down their arms and allow Iraqi forces to enter their enclave peacefully.

"Iraqi military forces are ready to enter Fallujah peacefully and assert their authority after armed men and terrorists lay downtheir weapons," said a statement by Allawi. "A peaceful solution is possible even if the fighting is ongoing," it added.

Allawi also appointed a temporary military governor for the vast western Al-Anbar province which includes Fallujah and Ramadi as he sought to reach out to powerful Sunni tribal leaders in the restive area.

US ARMY PREDICTS DAYS OF TOUGH URBAN FIGHTING IN FALLUJAH

The commander of the US-led forces in Iraq on Tuesday predictedmore "tough urban fighting" in Fallujah as about 2,000-3,000 militants were resisting the massive US offensive.

"I think we're looking at several more days of tough urban fighting," Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz, the operational level commander responsible for coalition military activities in Iraq, told a Pentagon news briefing through a video teleconference.

He said the militants fought the US-led forces in detachments or squads of three to six persons after their outer crust of defense was crushed. A small number of insurgents were captured, he added.

The general refused to give an exact number of US casualties inthe operation except the general term of "a dozen," saying the number kept changing. Media reports said 10 US troops and two Iraqi troops have been killed since the start of the offensive.

Metz said at least half of the Iraqi citizens had left Fallujahand US forces "have seen very, very few civilians on the streets."

He said he personally believed that some of the senior militantleaders also probably had fled, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Source: Xinhua