Foreign Fighters in Baghdad

[MIKE BURN]

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WITH THE FIFTH MARINES, Iraq, April 11



-- U.S. Marines in eastern Baghdad captured more than three dozen non-Iraqi fighters and killed at least 70 in two days of fighting, military sources told United Press International Friday.



The captured fighters came from Syria, Jordan, Yemen and as far away as Algeria.



Many of the foreign fighters were captured during fierce fighting around a mosque where senior Iraqi leaders, including Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, were said to be meeting, and from fighting to secure the al-Azimiyah palace.



The Marines captured the 17-acre compound and its palace late Thursday after five hours of fighting. The presidential palace is an ornate two-story structure that had been badly damaged by coalition airstrikes and was deserted.



"They fired over 100 rocket-propelled grenades and thousands of rounds of small arms ammunition," said Col. Fred Padila, commander of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. "It was very hairy."



One Marine was killed and at least 35 wounded. Marines confirm 70 Iraqi-side fighters were killed, but some estimates put the total as high as 90. Some of the dead were wearing green Iraqi uniforms but many were dressed in all black or in civilian clothes.



"These non-Iraq fighters are a problem, but a decreasing one," said a senior military officer, who spoke to UPI on condition of anonymity. "It is decreasing because we are killing them."

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