US general says calm is returning to Fallujah
WASHINGTON -- The former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah has calmed somewhat, with signs of commerce reappearing on the streets and no shots fired over the past 10 days at US or Iraqi forces, the Marine general overseeing US troops in the city said yesterday.
About 140,000 residents have been allowed back into the city, Lieutenant General John Sattler, commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, said from Iraq in a teleconference with reporters at the Pentagon. Some have left again because their homes were too damaged, but he lacked figures on how many.
"We're seeing more lights on every night," he said.
Fallujah had about 300,000 residents, but most fled before or during the assault by US and Iraqi forces that started Nov. 8 to clear the city of insurgents. 