US troops fighting al-Qaeda militants in the Iraqi city of Baquba now control about 60% of the city's western side, their commander says. Brig Gen Mick Bednarek said a big challenge for his 10,000 soldiers was securing areas once they were clear. The situation inside the city, 60km (35 miles) north-east of Baghdad, could not be confirmed independently. Earlier, another US military official said al-Qaeda fighters were being "enveloped into a kill sack".