About 2,000 Iraqis soldiers and paramilitary fighters were killed, according to military officials here.

For now, the American troops are here: they will continue to hunt down paramilitary fighters in and around the town.

The authorities say they have arrested 11 paramilitary fighters from the area who face criminal charges.

In a fight that pitted American forces against paramilitary fighters, there was often no clear front line.

The experts called on India to reduce its military presence, which is estimated at 500,000 to 700,000 army and paramilitary fighters.

Army officers estimated that there were now as many as 40,000 paramilitary fighters, perhaps more.

They say some are thieves trying to capitalize on the chaos and others may be paramilitary fighters who have not given up.

The Maze prison held some 800 paramilitary fighters during the 1980's, but by next week only 16 will remain.

Some 430 paramilitary fighters have been freed since the 1998 accord.

There were reports yesterday that some residents may have risen against Iraqi paramilitary fighters who control the city, the country's second largest.