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US-backed Kurdish forces take control of Maqlub mountains: Kurds
SALAHEDDIN, Iraq (AFP) Apr 09, 2003
 US forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters seized control of the Maqlub mountains overlooking the main northern city of Mosul overnight Wednesday, a Kuridsh official said.

"During joint operations, the US and Kurdish special forces seized the Maqlub mountains which are the most strategic mountains on the road to Mosul, some 15 to 18 kilometres (10 to 12 miles) north" of the oil-rich city, said Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) spokesman Hoshyar Zebari.

He said the move on the government-controlled city took place in the middle of the night and that no casualties were reported on the US-Kurdish side.

"Little fighting took place and there wasn't so much resistance from the Iraqis," Zebari said.

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