26 Iraqis, 11 children, 7 women killed by the US
Iraq, Politics, 4/1/2003

Preliminary news reports from Baghdad said that 20 Iraqis including 11 children and 7 women were killed after the American- British missiles fell on the two sides in the outskirts of Baghdad. Three houses were completely destroyed and other houses were damaged and the rescue teams were able to aid scores of wounded Iraqis.

Al- Ameen quarters to the east of Baghdad was exposed to a similar bombardment that resulted in damaging three homes and killing of other 6 citizens and many others were wounded and taken to al-Kindi hospital.

The downtown of Baghdad and several areas in the south were exposed to air bombardment from the coalition's planes and missiles.

Media correspondents said that the echo of the explosions were heard in every place of the city. They stressed that the presidential palace on the bank of the Euphrates and the building of the Iraqi ministry of information were exposed to the bombardment. The bombardment also targeted al-Ratba area prison.

A statement by the leadership of the American force said that the objective behind bombarding the prison came to obstruct it as a shelter.

Meantime, strong battles by tanks and artillery between the Iraqi forces and the invading forces took place 110 KM to the south of Baghdad, while fighting continued in al-Kout area, 150 Km to the East of Baghdad. Al-Najaf area, fighting continued until Kurbala.

One of the leaders of the invading contingents Col. Will Grimsly said that it is the first land confrontation of this volume. He said that similar clashes took place around al-Hindeyah bridge on the Euphrates river and that the invading forces could not cross the river.

While the city of al-Basra was exposed to air attack and attempts by the Comandos forces backed by tanks to break into the city, confronted by the Iraqi resistance, news reports said that hundreds of US Marines started inspection operations in the outskirts of al-Nasereyah city in which Iraqis fought fiercely against the invading forces, upon the attempt made by the invading forces to reach new supplies of weapons on the road leading to Baghdad.

Meanwhile, Abu Khasib town near al-Basra was attacked by the British forces and fierce fighting took place between the Iraqi resistance and the invading forces at a time when the American Marines tried to break into al-Shatra town in search of dead soldiers and pilots whose plane was downed, without success.

An Iraqi military spokesman said the resistance men downed a coalition plane and destroyed two tanks.

Meantime, an American spokesman admitted that one US Marine was killed near al-Imam Ayoub town in al-Hella city in central Iraq. He also admitted that one helicopter was hit in northern al-Najaf, but gave no further details.

A British military spokesman admitted that 14 British soldiers were wounded in the fighting. He denied that his forces arrested a senior Iraqi officer in al-Basra area.

Later in the day, an Iraqi military spokesman said that 54 American and British soldiers were killed at least during the past 24 hours especially in southern Iraq.

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