U.S. FORCES FENDED OFF A COORDINATED ASSAULT SATURDAY BY INSURGENTS ON THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, USING LASER-GUIDED BOMBS, ANTI-TANK ROCKETS AND MACHINE GUNS TO BEAT BACK THE BIGGEST ATTACK AGAINST THE FACILITY IN MORE THAN A MONTH, MARINE OFFICERS SAID, ACCORDING TO AP. INSURGENTS LAUNCHED THE SUSTAINED ATTACK FROM SEVERAL DIRECTIONS MIDDAY ON THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, A SANDBAG-LINED BUILDING PROTECTED BY U.S. MARINES THAT SERVES AS GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS FOR ANBAR PROVINCE. THERE WERE NO U.S. CASUALTIES, MARINES SAID. THEY WERE TRYING TO CONDUCT A COMPLEX ATTACK AGAINST GOVERNMENT CENTER IN HOPES OF OVERRUNNING IT, BUT WE HAVE TOO MUCH COMBAT POWER FOR THEM TO MESS WITH, MARINE CAPT. ANDREW DEL GAUDIO, COMMANDER OF KILO COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 8TH REGIMENT TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. THEY COME DOWN, WE BRING AIR AGAINST THEM, STRIKE THEM WITH WHAT WE GOT AND OBLITERATE THEM. MEANWHILE, IRAQI TROOPS CLASHED WITH SUNNI GUNMEN IN THE ANBAR TOWNS OF FALLUJAH AND KARMAH, POLICE AND WITNESSES SAID. THREE IRAQI SOLDIERS WERE WOUNDED IN FALLUJAH, POLICE AND WITNESSES SAID. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES FROM THE KARMAH SKIRMISH. IN RAMADI, MARINES DID NOT HAVE A PRECISE COUNT OF INSURGENT DEAD, BUT DEL GAUDIO ESTIMATED THERE COULD BE UP TO 50 OF THEM MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED.
