WASHINGTON -- U.S. and Iraqi government forces control 80 percent of Fallujah on the fifth day of fighting there, senior military officers said Friday in Washington.

The fight intensified as insurgents were forced into a corner of the city. While the coalition made quick progress to gain control of 70 percent of Fallujah, it has only gained another 10 percent in two days of pitched fighting.

"The operation is going extremely well, and we are going to continue to pressure the enemy until we've returned Fallujah to the Fallujah people," said Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, at a press briefing in the city.

Coalition forces are holding 151 detainees, including 15 foreign fighters. The number of prisoners is expected to rise, as 300 people holed up in a mosque in the city surrendered Friday afternoon. Some portion of them is believed to be civilians; others are believed to be insurgent fighters.

Copyright 2004 by United Press International