Secretary of State Colin Powell , seen here 04 November 2004, called his counterparts in several countries to explain US operations in Fallujah and promised to spare civilians, a spokesman said. (Photo: Yahoo/AFP)

    BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- US warplanes and artillery pounded the rebel-held city of Fallujah as battles continued on Monday between US-Iraqi forces and fighters who defended the city, killing 15 civilians and wounding 25 others, witnesses said.

    "We received 15 bodies and 25 wounded in the latest US bombardment on the city," said medical sources in the substituted hospital in one of the mosques in the city.

    US warplanes and artillery pounded Fallujah as fierce battles continued on all fronts around the city.

    Sources from Mujahedin Council in the city said that fighters of the city shot down three unmanned planes, used for reconnaissance, and two helicopters since the beginning of the US-led major offensive on Fallujah. They also said Fallujah fighters destroyed a tank and an armored vehicle of the US forces.

    Loud speakers on mosques and moving cars also announced that 108 national guard members have surrendered to Fallujah fighters. Loud speakers also confirmed that the fighters captured 36 US soldiers in an industrial area.

    Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has made phone calls to his foreign counterparts to explain the US offensive in Fallujah and promised to avoid civilian casualties.

    "The secretary has been active with other foreign ministers, ashave others in the department, in terms of message about the operations that are commencing in Fallujah," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing on Monday.

    Boucher said that Powell consulted with and explained to them that the United States saw the military operation as the last resort.

    Powell called the foreign ministers of Poland, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and "he will make another couple of phonecalls this afternoon to other friends and concerned parties in thearea," Boucher added.

    Boucher admitted there are concerns for civilian casualties in the offensive.

    "There is obvious concern about the civilians in Fallujah, for this reason the government has for days now encouraged people to leave," Boucher said. "US forces, coalition forces and I am sure, Iraqi forces, will make every possible provision to avoid civiliancasualties."

    In a bid to regain the control of Fallujah, US Marines backed by the Iraqi government troops on Monday evening started an all-out offensive on the rebel-held city. About 15,000 US and Iraqi troops are participating in operation "Phantom Fury," said the Pentagon.     

    IRAQI FM CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO CONFERENCE ON IRAQ

    Iraqi interim Foreign Minister Hoshiar Zibari, who is in Cairo for a visit, on Monday called for "clear" international support toan expected conference on Iraq to be hosted by Egypt later this month.

    The conference is part of efforts to facilitate the political process in the war-torn country to bring about an elected government, said Zibari after a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit.

    Abul Gheit, on his part, said consultations over the final statement of the conference were still going on. The statement should take up all relevant issues, such as the related UN Security Council resolutions and the status of foreign forces in Iraq, Gheit added.

    The international conference on Iraq, set to open on Nov. 22 inthe Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, will bring together representatives of Iraq and its neighbors, Egypt, the G-8,China, the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the European Union.

    Egypt, a major political player in the Middle East, has been making preparations for the gathering. Egypt hopes that the gathering will hammer out a unified international stance on Iraq, preparing the war-torn country for general elections scheduled forJanuary 2005 and helping it restore peace and stability. Enditem