As US-led troops met strong resistance in Iraq's Fallujah, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday that Washington wanted to end the operation rapidly and begin to reconstruct the city.

US Marine Lieutenant General John Sattler told reporters just outside Fallujah that about 80 percent of the city has been occupied by his troops, but even within the area there was "clearing up" to be done.

"Our goal right now -- we feel we've broken their back and their spirit -- is to keep the heat on them," Sattler said.

But Powell told Arabic satellite television Al Arabiya that the forces tried to complete the operation there and then move swiftly to rebuild the city.

"We want to get this over with as quickly as possible, because right behind those coalition forces are reconstruction teams, are hospital teams, and ambulances, and food, and humanitarian equipment and supplies to help the people of Fallujah," he said ina transcript from the State Department on Friday.

Meanwhile, Iraqi officials were holding negotiations over the surrender of about 300 people trapped inside a mosque in Fallujah, senior US and Iraqi military officials said Friday.

Major General Abdul Qader Mohammed Jassim Mohan, commander of Iraqi forces in Fallujah, told a press conference that the identities of those inside the mosque remained unknown. Some of them might be civilians.

Six people who had surrendered explained that they were civilians forced to fight for rebels. "They were told to fight or would be killed." Mohan added.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed grave concern over the civilians caught up in the fighting in Fallujah.

"According to the information we have received, some civilians are still trapped in Fallujah," ICRC spokeswoman Rana Sidani said."We are very worried about their fate."

Due to the fighting and absence of medical staff, two medical centers which are not in the part of the city occupied by the US-led forces are no longer working. Sidani said. The injured were not receiving the care they needed.

The ICRC had tried to ask the warring parties to guarantee the necessary care, she said.

"All those taking part in the combat have a responsibility to spare civilians and give access to the wounded," she said.

Sidani said there was a lack of drinking water in Fallujah. Shequoted Iraq's water supply department as saying that workers at two pumping stations have fled.

Source: Xinhua