US forces head for Mosul

American forces advanced into Iraq's third city today to take over from Kurdish forces, as the coalition continued to seize control across the north of the country.

Fighters loyal to Saddam Hussein reportedly abandoned Mosul and American Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said US troops were entering the city.

It is understood that an agreement for the surrender of Mosul to coalition forces was reached overnight.

Hoshyar Zebari, the Kurdistan Democratic Party's head of external relations, said Kurdish forces could be helpful to maintain law and order and prevent looting in Mosul.

"Nobody is interested in any bloodshed or any fighting. We want this to be done in an organised way," he said.

"These are Iraqi cities, they are not Turkish cities.

"The US forces that are in the region will be in charge, they will be in control, and not other forces."

On Kurdish control of the northern oil fields he said: "All the oil of the north belongs to the people of Iraq.

"What the Kurds have asked all along is for a fair share, a fair deal of the development of the areas of these oil wells.

"We are not seeking to seize or to claim the oil of northern Iraq.

"In fact this is public wealth and the people of Iraq should benefit from that."

Most Kurdish military personnel would withdraw from Kirkuk today, he added.

US seeks to reassure Turkey

America sought to reassure Turkey, which reacted angrily when Kurdish fighters entered the nearby oil-rich city of Kirkuk yesterday, against American wishes.

The advance of the Kurds has created a potential powder keg in the region, with Turkey determined to prevent them gaining too much power.

It is feared that Turkey could send troops into Iraq to deal with Kurdish peshmerga fighters.

Turkish military observers are already being sent to Kirkuk.

Late yesterday the strategic northern city of Khaneqin was captured without a fight.

Kurdish and US soldiers moved into Khaneqin and occupied major government buildings.

Suicide bomber in Baghdad

But despite the successes, US forces on the streets of Baghdad continued to come under attack.

Captain Joe Plenzler, a Marines spokesman in Baghdad, confirmed that four soldiers were injured by a suicide bomber last night.

"We have security but nothing is foolproof," he said.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called for the restoration of law and order in Iraq as soon as possible.

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