Posted on 04/04/2003 8:41:15 AM PST by flutters
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Thousands of residents were fleeing Baghdad in a stream of bumper-to-bumper vehicles Friday after U.S. troops seized the city's Saddam International Airport. An Iraqi official promised an "unconventional" response and said he was referring to commando and suicide attacks. Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf claimed Iraqi forces had surrounded the U.S. troops at the airport after managing to isolate the unit from other units near the city.
"Tonight we will do something unconventional, not by the military," al-Sahhaf said. We will do something which I believe is very beautiful. Those remaining soldiers who did not surrender I don't believe they have a great chance of surviving."
Asked whether "unconventional" meant the use of weapons of mass destruction, he replied: "No. that's not what I said ... What I meant are commando and martyrdom (suicide) operations in a very new, creative way."
U.S. commanders said the airport, which they renamed Baghdad International Airport, was under American control by mid-afternoon.
They also said 2,500 Republican Guards had surrendered to Marines south of the city.
Anticipating an intense battle, Iraqi civilians packed food and belongings into trucks, buses and cars in a mass exodus from the city's northern and northeastern districts.
Some witnesses described bumper-to-bumper lines of vehicles extending for up to six miles. Many were headed to the province of Diala, northeast of the capital.
Earlier, Health Minister Omeed Medhat Mubarak said hospitals in the capital were swamped with wounded.
At al-Yarmouk hospital, doctors and nurses scrambled to cope with the rush of casualties - including civilians and soldiers from the Republican Guard. The injured could be heard crying in pain. Those too weak to talk pointed to their bloodied bandages and wounds.
"The aggression is not differentiating between civilians and military," Mubarak said.
The hospitals had generators so they could operate despite a power outage that began Thursday night - the first widespread outage in the capital since the war began March 20. U.S. military officials said they had not targeted Baghdad's power grid.
A sustained loss of electricity would mean the disruption of water supply and sewage, which could spread disease at a time of rising temperatures. Some parts of the city of 5 million had no running water.
Some of the injured at al-Yarmouk said they were from the Furat and al-Radwaniyah districts, both close to the airport. People at the hospital said dozens had been killed in the two districts, but that could not be confirmed.
"It was a fierce battle last night and today," said 23-year-old Republican Guard soldier Omar Bahaeldeen Khalil from his hospital bed.
At a sandbagged sentry post in the capital, one guard vowed to resist any U.S. assault.
"We have given allegiance to our leader Saddam Hussein that we will be faithful soldiers," said Abdul Wahid Hidawi. "All they have to do is come to Baghdad to face the real Iraqis and, God willing we will make of them an example to others."
Despite the conflict, traffic on the streets was about normal early Friday, the Muslim day of rest, and many shops were open.
Bakeries, grocers and barber shops - some without power - and many appeared to be doing a brisk business. There were long lines at gas stations and some buses were running.
B late afternoon, gas station lines grew much longer and some neighborhoods, especially those in the south, were quieter than usual.
Al-Sahhaf, speaking on behalf of President Saddam Hussein, promised to defeat coalition forces at the gates of Baghdad.
"We are determined, God willing, to defeat them and destroy them on the walls of our capital," al-Sahhaf said, delivering a statement for Saddam, who has not been shown speaking on television since a taped appearance on March 24.
AP-ES-04-04-03 1043EST
It will put shame to the Highway of death. Nothing more than a commercial for the rest of extremist Arab world to NOT mess with the US.
He is talking about Iraqi soldiers, right?
Free barbecued ribs and beer.
And it goes without saying which type of ribs are to be 'cued.
Didn't the Iriqis put out a call just a day or two ago for suicide bombers to help them?
This is great.. the new and improved way to kill ourselves.
This stuff is proving my theory to be true..
"The word ARAB is synonymous with MENTAL ILLNESS"
From whence does this freak speak? Can't we clam him up?? He is a disaster
Despite the conflict, traffic on the streets was about normal early Friday
Is bumper-to-bumper traffic normal in Baghdad?
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