Fighting is raging between al Qaeda-backed militants and Iraq's security forces for control of two key cities in the embattled Anbar province, even as a deal was in place with Sunni tribesmen to fight alongside Iraqi police against the terror group. The renewed violence in the Sunni province has raised concern about the stability of the government amid dueling claims by the terror group and security forces over who was in control of Falluja and Ramadi. At least 80 people were killed, roughly 60 of the casualties were members of al Qaeda, in clashes Friday across the province, a senior interior ministry official told CNN.
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At least 80 people have been killed in fighting in Falluja, an official says
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Fighting is under way in Ramadi, but the number of casualties is not known
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Gunmen called on worshipers to join a Qaeda-backed group
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U.S. "partnering with the Iraqi government very closely," State Dept. says
Some of the most significant fighting appeared to be in Falluja, where the U.S. military fought one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war, with militants planting @placeholder flags on buildings.