US forces battled rebels in Ramadi and shelled Falluja today, but there was no sign that an all-out American-led offensive to retake the insurgent-held cities had begun on the eve of the US presidential election.
The US military said it had begun to increase its troop strength in Iraq ahead of nationwide elections due in January. "The Second Brigade Combat Team has been informed that its departure has been delayed for 30 to 60 days to provide a secure environment for this election," a military spokesman said.
While the 1st Cavalry's Second Brigade will stay longer than planned, new troops have begun arriving, he said. The United States already has about 138,000 troops in Iraq.
Three people were killed in the Ramadi fighting, including an Iraqi cameraman filming for Reuters.
Falluja was generally quiet, apart from a brief Marine artillery barrage against insurgent targets. The Marines are preparing to attack Ramadi and Falluja in a drive to pacify Iraq before the Iraqi national assembly polls.
It is not clear if the assault will begin before tomorrow's American presidential poll. Iraq has been a divisive campaign theme, with President George W. Bush defending the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein and his handling of its aftermath against fierce criticism from Democratic challenger Mr John Kerry.
Gunmen assassinated the deputy governor of Baghdad, a day after Iraq's US-backed interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said the government was losing patience with Falluja.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said Hatem Karim was killed and two bodyguards were wounded in a drive-by shooting in the southern Dora district of the Iraqi capital. The Islamic militant Army of Ansar al-Sunna group claimed responsibility. The group said it had carried out "God's judgment on the apostate" Karim.
Insurgents have assassinated many officials seen as cooperating with US-led forces in Iraq, while revenge killings against former Saddam Hussein loyalists are also common. Gunmen killed retired Republican Guard Lieutenant-Colonel Athir al-Khazraji and a passerby in Baquba, northeast of Baghdad. A morgue official in the town said he had also received the body of an Iraqi contractor working for US forces.
In the northern Sunni Muslim city of Tikrit, 15 civilians were killed and about eight wounded when a rocket fired by insurgents hit a hotel used by southern migrant workers shortly after evening prayers yesterday, the US military said. Three mortar rounds hit the Sunni city of Samarra overnight and hospital officials said seven people were wounded.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi appeared to have won public backing for his refusal to pull Japanese troops out of Iraq despite the weekend beheading of a Japanese hostage. But the killing of 24-year-old backpacker Shosei Koda has re-ignited debate over whether Tokyo should extend the troops' mission when their mandate expires in December.
Zarqawi's group, which have claimed responsibility for some of Iraq's bloodiest suicide bombings and hostage decapitations, had vowed to behead Koda unless Japan pulled out its 550 non-combat troops.
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