'TANKS REACH CENTRE'

Sky News ^ | April 9, 2003

[MadIvan]

American tanks have reportedly taken up positions around a square at the very centre of Baghdad.

From a vantage point near Tahrir Square, Reuters reporter Hassan Hafidh said: "I can see about 15 tanks and armoured vehicles as well as some other vehicles that appeared to have crossed the river from the west of the city.

"They are broadcasting messages from loudspeakers in Arabic telling people not to shoot at them. The Americans look a bit nervous and are pointing their guns at people in the street."

US officials say it is premature to say the Battle of Baghdad is now over.

As renewed artillery shelling and small arms fire reverberated around the Iraqi capital, one official said there may be "many more days" of fierce fighting ahead.

Six US Marines have been injured in fighting in the Saddam City suburb to the east of the city.

Sporadic fighting is continuing around the Presidential Palace in central Baghdad.

Reporters said there was no sign of police on the main streets and there has been widespread looting. One report said looters had taken over the United Nations building.

Two tanks are holding a key bridge over the Tigris as American forces try to quell Iraqi resistance on the 21st day of the war.

The tanks were joined by artillery and automatic weapons fire.

Iraqi forces are blocking the eastern exit of the Al-Jumhuriya bridge.

Smoke billowed across the area, which is being overflown intermittently by Coalition warplanes in support of ground forces.

US forces fought their way to Saddam Hussein's Republican Palace after taking the international airport on Friday.

The sound of battle began at around 7am local time this morning after a relative lull in street skirmishes and air strikes overnight.

Intense shooting was also heard from the south of the capital as US troops sought to tighten their grip.

[MadIvan]

Defintion of gobshite, with pronunciation key

Regards, Ivan

[Kozak]

New York Times Headline:

TANKS "PAUSE" IN CENTRAL BAGHDAD. CHEERING CROWDS MASK QUAGMIRE.

You left out:

Women and Minorities Affected Most.....

[mtbopfuyn]

"One report said looters had taken over the United Nations building." That's not news.

Good one.

I find it amazing how many chairs, computers, and other equipment coming out of the UN (the one in Iraq!) is still in packing wrapping and boxes. Can't we say "excess"?

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

I shoulda known that! Thanks

[MeekOneGOP]

bttt for later read.

Iraqis in central Baghdad attached a rope
to a GIANT statue of Saddam Hussein.
They have just Toppled Saddam (symbolically)
and ended his Reign of Terror of the last THIRTY Years !

[blackie]

Yes!!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[1 armoured]

Lucky the war's pretty much over, god knows how many more casuaties would've come to the coallition forces if they hadn't stopped shooting their own people.