Al Yawer had sent in a personal delegate to negotiate with the citizens of Fallujah to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

He said it was unacceptable that negotiations take place while U.S. F-16s hover overhead.

"I place full responsibility on the U.S. forces to allow medical and humanitarian supplies. The Americans must answer to international law. The situation in Fallujah is deplorable," he said.

Residents told Arab media that two hours after the new ceasfire took effect, heavy shelling and bombing of several districts in Fallujah resumed. Al Jazeera told its viewers that they came under fire for the second day as a house near their base of operations was destroyed by shelling from U.S forces. A house where Al Jazeera had interviewed a city municipal worker yesterday was today destroyed. The owner was killed.

Reports are emerging from Fallujah that women and children have been returned to the city and are no longer allowed to leave. An Al Jazeera reporter said he saw frantic women and children running in the street unable to find a secure place to escape the shelling.

Meanwhile, sources in Mosul report that there have been ongoing clashes between Coalition troops and resistance fighters. Near Baghdad, Arab TV showed a destroyed M1 Abrams tank and a downed U.S. helicopter. Reports from the northern city are still sketchy.

Reports from Kut indicate that seven civilians, including five women and one child, were killed by U.S. fire as they were seeking an escape route from the city.

YellowTimes.org correspondent Firas al-Atraqchi drafted this report.