In Iraq the death toll from the US siege on Fallujah has now topped 600. Over 1,200 more Iraqis have been injured. On Friday 60,000 women and children fled the city during a brief ceasefire but the US blocked any men of military age from leaving. The US claims there is a ceasefire in the city to allow for political negotiations to take place. But other reports from Iraq indicate there is no ceasefire.

Dozens of bodies have been buried in the city’s soccer stadium after US forces blocked roads heading toward the cemetery.

According to the Guardian of London, local hospitals reported the majority of the dead were women, children and the elderly but the US maintained 95 percent of those killed were members of the resistance.

The attack on Fallujah has galvanized major portions of the Iraqi population against the US. Even the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council appears to be in danger of collapsing. One member suspended his seat on the council to protest the US actions. Four more have threatened to quit. And one of the Iraqis closest to the US, Adnan Pachachi, charged the US actions in Fallujah were “unacceptable and illegal.”

The US initially blocked members of the Iraqi Governing Council from entering Fallujah. The council members were attempting to start negotiations.

Council member Hachim Hassani said the US has alienated much of the Iraqi population. He said, “If you keep shooting them you are gaining more enemies, not just in Fallujah but all over Iraq and then you cannot have democracy.”

In addition, the newly installed Iraqi minister of human rights resigned in protest. And there are reports that many governmental workers are on strike to protest the US actions in Fallujah.