By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US and Iraqi forces battled insurgents who attacked several military bases in the volatile western city of Ramadi on Friday, the US Marines said.
It was unclear if there were any casualties in the fighting, which eyewitnesses claimed raged throughout the afternoon in Ramadi, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad.
Militants began attacking coalition bases at 3:45 p.m. with small arms and mortar fire, which coincided with the announcement of uncertified final results for Iraq's Dec. 15 parliamentary elections, the Marines said in a statement.
US Marines and soldiers, backed by Iraqi troops, used small arms fire, medium and heavy weapons and aircraft to repel the attacks after about an hour, according to the statement.