US forces are sweeping Mosul

&to=http:// english.pravda.ru/war/2003/03/27/45121.html ' target=_blank>US and Iraqi troops pushed into insurgent-heavy neighbourhoods and stormed police stations in Mosul on Tuesday, launching an offensive to retake parts of this northern Iraqi city where militants staged a mass uprising last week in support of insurgents in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/ 22/101/399/14549_Fallujah.html ' target=_blank>Fallujah. Mosul's five bridges were closed to start the operation and American forces began securing police stations in the western part of Iraq's third-largest city, said spokesperson Angela Bowman, reports News24.

"We are in the process of securing all police stations and returning the police to these stations to put in place a strong police presence," Bowman told the Associated Press. "Some of those stations are in neighbourhoods on the western side of the city where there has been insurgent activity and presence. We are now moving through the neighbourhood."

Three police stations reportedly blew up early Tuesday, shortly after insurgents who had controlled them fled.