"The marines are now at the center of the city," he told AFP.

It was not immediately clear if marines advancing from the north had also reached the center of Fallujah, which lies west of Baghdad.

Another marine officer, who did not wish to be identified, said the force suffered six injuries Wednesday.

During a battle with insurgents taking refuge in a mosque, five marines were slightly wounded by shrapnel when a rocket-propelled grenade slammed near their Humvee, he said.

One marine was shot in the arm in a separate attack by insurgents.

He said a helicopter gunship shot and killed one insurgent who had fired a rocket-propelled grenade on marines Wednesday.

The slain body of an insurgent who was killed Tuesday was still lying on the ground of a street in southern Fallujah.

WAR.WIRE