FALLUJA, Oct 26 (Saba) - The U.S. military said it killed an ally of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in an overnight air raid on Falluja on Tuesday, as the Iraqi government investigated how Zarqawi's group managed to kill 49 unarmed
army recruits.

The U.S. military said the early morning raid struck a safe house used by al-Zarqawi's group. U.S. forces have stepped up aerial and artillery assaults on Fallujah in recent weeks in an attempt to root out insurgents.

Residents said the raid had destroyed one house and damaged three. Hospital staff said they had received no casualties.

TD

SABA