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From the BBC - Iraq Latest: at-a-glance

[All times GMT and approximate]

Thursday, 27 March

1200: British tanks destroyed 14 Iraqi T-55 tanks in the Basra area on Thursday, a UK Ministry of Defence official says.

1145: British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon condemns TV footage of two dead British soldiers as a "flagrant and sickening breach" of the Geneva Conventions.

1130: Powerful explosions are heard in central Baghdad after a series of loud blasts in the city overnight.

1115: A wounded US soldier tells a press conference in Germany that his unit expected "little or no resistance". He said he had encountered Iraqi soldiers wearing civilian clothes over their uniforms.

1000: Coalition forces plan to step up their operations in Iraq in the next three days as the weather improves, according to Central Command officials in Qatar.

0950: British Challenger tanks destroyed a column of 14 Iraqi T-55 tanks and four armoured personnel carriers south of Basra in southern Iraq on Thursday morning, a UK military spokesman says.

0900: Iraq's health minister says that 36 people were killed and more than 200 injured in the previous day's US and British air strikes on Baghdad. He adds that about 350 people have been killed and 3,600 injured since the start of US-led military strikes.

0855: A missile fired at Kuwait from southern Iraq is brought down by a Patriot anti-missile battery, according to Kuwaiti defence officials.

0845: American troops using tanks and attack helicopters engaged in heavy fighting with Iraqi forces at the town of Samawah, about 150 miles south of Baghdad and on a crucial supply route. Black smoke reported above the town.

0700: US military investigating reports that 37 Marines were injured when they were hit by fire from their own side near the city of Nasiriya. The incident happened after 30 Marines were injured in a surprise Iraqi rocket attack.

0651: British forces take Iraqi state radio and television off the air in the second city of Basra. The move effectively isolates Basra from any communications with the capital Baghdad.

0556: British Royal Navy says first ship bringing humanitarian aid to Iraq has been delayed by 24 hours because of the discovery of mines. The Sir Galahad was due to dock in the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr on Thursday.

0247: British Ministry of Defence confirms that two dead soldiers, whose bodies were shown in footage broadcast by al-Jazeera TV, are "probably" two Britons who went missing during a battle near al-Zubayr on Sunday.

0058: US Pentagon spokesman says intelligence reports provide "no conclusive evidence" that coalition forces were responsible for the bombing of a Baghdad market place on Wednesday which left 14 dead.

0053: At least 10 more explosions reported in Baghdad, along with the sound of anti-aircraft fire.

0010: Reports of huge Iraqi Republican Guard armoured column heading south from Baghdad are false, US military commanders say.

The movements of those reporting from Baghdad are restricted and their reports are monitored by the Iraqi authorities.

Reporters with the US and British military are restricted in what they can say about precise locations or military plans

1200: British tanks destroyed 14 Iraqi T-55 tanks in the Basra area on Thursday, a UK Ministry of Defence official says.

Iraq MoD: That column isn't dead, it's resting!

UK MoD: Look, matey, I know a dead convoy when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now!

Iraq MoD: No, no, it's not dead, it's resting! Remarkable tank, the T-55, isn't it, eh? Beautiful camouflage!

UK MoD: The camouflage didn't enter into it. It's stone dead.

Iraq MoD: No, no, no, no! 'E's resting!

UK MoD: All right then, if they's restin', I'll wake 'em up!
(shouting at the burned out convoy)
'Ello, Mister Iraqi Tankers! I've got a lovely fresh Humanitarian Daily Ration for you if you show...