Fighting on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya has blocked an advance by U.S. forces there, Reuters reporter said on Sunday, quoting military sources.
The news agency said members of a U.S. Marine task force had reported encountering resistance on the approaches, and that columns of black smoke were visible on the horizon.
"We're blocked. We can't go ahead because of security concerns because of this resistance," the reporter of Reuters said from his position about 30 km southeast of the city.
Earlier, Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf told Iraqi television on Sunday that Iraqi troops are fighting U.S. forces around the city of Nassiriya, 375 kms southeast of Baghdad.
"We are still attacking the invading troops there," he said. Sahaf also said that by Sunday morning, Iraqi forces had destroyed 16 U.S. tanks and armored vehicles.
The U.S. military had said on Saturday it had secured a bridge across the Euphrates river at Nassiriya. (Albawaba.com)
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