Fighting sweeps Iraq's Sunni Muslim heartland as U.S. offensive in Fallujah winds down

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. and Iraqi forces fought deadly battles with insurgents across central and northern Iraq on Monday — the latest in a wave of clashes that has swept the country's Sunni Muslim heartland even as American troops move against the last remaining pockets of resistance in Fallujah.

The worst reported fighting took place in Baqouba, where the military said at least 20 insurgents were killed. Militants hit at least four different U.S. troop convoys with car bombs, wounding nine Americans in and around the Sunni stronghold of Ramadi and in the northern city of Mosul.

A recording purported to be from Iraq's most feared terror leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, instructed insurgents across Iraq to attack U.S. forces before the military can move on other guerrilla strongholds after Fallujah.

"If it (the U.S. military) finishes Fallujah, it will move in your direction. Beware and deny it the chance to carry out this plan," said the speaker on the recording, posted on the Web.

The speaker, who was identified in the message as al-Zarqawi and whose voice resembled that of the Jordanian militant, said the Americans were overextended and "cannot expand" their operations.

"Shower them with rockets and mortars and cut all the supply routes," he urged. The authenticity of the tape could not be confirmed immediately.

A convoy of ambulances and relief supplies trying to enter Fallujah was forced to turn back because the fighting made it too dangerous, the head of the Iraqi Red Crescent said. The Red Crescent and Red Cross have been unable to gain access to people inside Fallujah during more than a week of violence.

Iraq's interior minister declared victory in the offensive. "Fallujah is no more a safe haven for the terrorists and killers. This thing is over," Falah Hassan al-Naqib told reporters in Baghdad.

Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said the leader of a militant group behind the killing of some foreign hostages had been captured. Moayad Ahmed Yasseen, leader of the group Muhammad's Army, was captured along with some of his followers, Allawi said. He did not say what kidnappings the group has been involved in.

Allawi's office confirmed that two of his female relatives who were kidnapped last week have been released. Allawi's cousin, Ghazi Allawi, 75, his cousin's wife and his cousin's pregnant daughter-in-law were abducted at gunpoint last Tuesday in Baghdad. There was no word on the cousin.