Baghdad, Dec 04: US paratroopers killed one "enemy" and captured 63 in a series of patrols over the last 24 hours west of the Iraqi capital, the coalition said in a statement today. "The 82nd airborne division and subordinate units have conducted 161 patrols, including 10 joint patrols with the Iraqi border guard and Iraqi police," said the statement datelined from Ramadi, a hotbed of loyalists to ousted President Saddam Hussein. "During these operations, 63 enemy personnel were captured and one killed while suffering no us casualties," it said. In Ramadi, three civilians and two policemen were wounded today when a police station in the Centre of this troubled town west of Baghdad came under attack, the deputy chief of police said.

"We were attacked by unknown people in a black BMW (car) using light weapons and RPGs," or rocket-propelled grenades, police lieutenant Samir Habib Jalil told a news agency. "One police major, Mohammed Ibrahim, was wounded in the leg and one policeman called Mohannad Sallun is seriously hurt and has been transferred to Baghdad," the deputy police chief said.
"Four grenades were thrown and shots fired from automatic weapons against the station and police riposted," said witness Luai Abdul Karim, aged 27.

Bureau Report