U.S. troops, insurgents clash in Mosul

[leftchick]

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/breaking_news/11666108.htm

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. troops and militants clashed in this northern city on Tuesday, with heavy exchanges of machine gun fire being heard, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

U.S. forces were seen advancing into the eastern neighborhood of Dhubbat, a known insurgent stronghold in Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad.

Heavy machine gun exchanges were taking place in the area between militants and U.S. forces, said the AP reporter who witnessed the clashes from the rooftop of a nearby home. American helicopters were also seen circling overhead.

It was unclear what sparked the clashes or if there were any casualties.

Efforts to contact American forces in Mosul were not immediately successful; the U.S. military in Baghdad said it was not aware of any operation in Mosul.