Fighting has eased in the Iraqi city of Fallujah as the US-led force consolidates its hold on parts of the city centre.
It has been reported that the American-led forces have taken control of a third of the rebel-held city, less than 24 hours after launching their all-out assault.
US soldiers working with Iraqi government troops say they have moved into the city's centre and that initial resistance has faded.
Up to 15,000 soldiers supported by warplanes, tanks and artillery are taking part in the operation. Thousands of them are said to be moving into the Jolan district in the northwest of Fallujah, which had been in rebel hands.
Earlier, Iraq's interim Foreign Minister, Hoshiyar Zebari, said resistance was not as fierce as had been expected and that the offensive would be completed within days.
Speaking in Cairo, Mr Zebari said that according to his reports, operations were proceeding smoothly.
Earlier reports said forces had captured the main railway station. There has been little information on casualties but witnesses inside Fallujah have spoken of constant explosions and said power and water supplies were cut off.
Residents said the bombardment had destroyed a clinic, and some medical staff and patients were killed.
Claims by local witnesses that a US helicopter was shot down by a missile were denied by the Americans.
In the nearby city of Ramadi, insurgents have taken the city centre after 24 hours of fighting with US troops.
There have also been a number of car bombings in and around Baghdad, with at least 13 people killed.
Assault 'least damaging', Annan told
At the United Nations, Iraq's ambassador Samir Sumaidaie has told the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, that the assault on Fallujah was the interim government's 'least damaging choice' for providing security to civilians.
Earlier, Mr Annan had warned that the attack risked further dividing the Iraqi people and derailing the country's elections planned for January.
