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U.S. troops attack Najaf, bomb Baath headquarters By Kieran Murray NEAR NAJAF, Iraq, April 2 (Reuters) - U.S. troops attacked Fedayeen fighters loyal to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in the central city of Najaf on Wednesday, strafing militia positions and bombing the city's Baath Party headquarters. This correspondent saw A-10 Warthog ground attack planes fly low over the city and open fire on suspected Fedayeen fighters who have offered stiff resistance to the U.S.-led invasion. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Holden of 101st Airborne said the city was a centre of Fedayeen resistance. "The target is to destroy Fedayeen units and anyone...

British troops in Iraq yesterday mounted aggressive patrols to track down Saddam Hussein’s henchmen and looters. In districts around the south-western edge of Basra sections of soldiers maintained a high presence to deter any would-be insurrection. Others, acting on specific intelligence provided by the local population, raided homes and properties belonging to members of the Iraqi ruling Baath party and militiamen loyal to Saddam. Any found with weapons were immediately arrested as prisoners of war. Protecting the numerous oil and gas processing plants in the area has become a key role for the 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats, as...

Allies Pound Iraqi Vehicles in Basra By DOUG MELLGREN and NICOLE WINFIELD .c The Associated Press NEAR BASRA, Iraq (AP) - British and U.S. aircraft pounded a convoy of Iraqi tanks and armored vehicles that was streaming out of the besieged southern city of Basra late Wednesday, British military sources said. The sources estimated the column at about 120 vehicles, heading southeast along the main road toward Abadan. They said it appeared the Iraqis were using the sandstorm that had blanketed the region to try to sneak out. Basra had been largely quiet for much of the day Wednesday, with...