U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Iraq's third largest city, Mosul, appears to be on the verge of falling into the control of U.S.-led forces.
After briefing lawmakers about developments in Iraq, Secretary Rumsfeld told reporters that some U.S. troops and Kurdish forces have been moving into Mosul after signs of Iraqi surrenders in the area.
"I am told that in Mosul there appears to be an opportunity for the regular Iraqi forces to turn in their weapons and no longer pose a threat, in which case Kurdish forces and U.S. forces in small numbers are in the process of moving into Mosul," he said.
Mr. Rumsfeld went on to say there has been an orderly process, and that the forces that are entering are being welcomed by the Iraqi people.
Mosul, on the northern front, is the country's third largest city after Baghdad and Basra, which have already fallen to coalition forces.