Blair asks Bush for UN role; Invasion's tanks incurred in Baghdad test defenses
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/8/2003

In the 19th day of the invasion of Iraq, the American invasion forces made a "show of muscles" in the downtown of Baghdad by reaching the extent of breaking into a presidential complex, saying it was a " strong message " to the regime of Saddam Hussein which seemed yesterday for the first time as not having the ability to repulse the successive attacks which also targeted more Iraqi civilians in their houses.

Meantime, the US President George Bush and his British counterpart Tony Blair started two days of talks expected to be dominated by the issue of running "new" Iraq, while the US Secretary of State Colin Powell who accompanied Bush in his visit to Northern Ireland announced that the US will send a team this week to Iraq to prepare the ground for a provisional authority.

Powell added that the UN might ensure humanitarian aids and provide legitimacy to the provisional administration. He did not give a specific description to the role to be played by the UN organization, but Powell explained that the American- British coalition which payed the risk politically and sacrificed their own people should have a leading role in the post-Saddam Iraq.

Powell stressed that it is time to talk about the future of Iraq because the military campaign is proceeding "in a good way, exceptionally." In this regard, the UN chief Kofi Annan chose his former assistant at the UN organization, the Pakistani Rafee Eddine Ahmad ( 70 year old) as a special coordinator for coordination at the UN Security Council concerning the post-Saddam Iraq.

The invading forces for the first time carried out an incursion in the heard of Baghdad and entered two Presidential palaces in air attacks intercepted strongly and resulted in killing for American soldiers while the British forces stressed that the "battle of al-Basra has almost finished" after the invaders were able to have their control on it despite the continued resistance.

Correspondents on the field said the Iraqi snipers were positioned yesterday behind bridges while artillery fires were opened almost in every direction, at a time when Iraqi forces were defending Baghdad before American forces that incurred in the heart of the city.

US Gen. Richard Myers said that the invading forces are holding 7000 Iraqi war prisoners, adding that out of 800 tanks -- the Iraqi army used to have at the beginning, most of them were destroyed.

On the other hand, Myers said that 85 members of the American forces were killed and more than 150 were so far wounded in the Anglo- American attack of Iraq. Myers added that the invading planes carried out more than 1000 sorties within 24 hours in Iraq "and since the beginning of the war we dropped 750 Tomahawk missiles and more than 18,000 bombs." Iraq yesterday announced that it downed two American jets. The first is of A 10 type and the second id F 15 in Baghdad's areas.

The American army said that fighting erupted yesterday between Iraqis in the city of al-Nasereyah, adding that the American forces remained neutral and do not intend to interfere before today ( Tuesday) morning.

The American army officers added that the reason of fighting was not clear, noting that among those Iraqis are citizens, Fedayee Saddam and members of the Baath Party -- between Iraqis and thieves who had been for the whole day stealing from private and public establishments in the city.

Well-informed sources said that Abdul Majeed al-Khou' who has been since three days in al-Najaf is seeking to meet with Ayatullah Ali al-Seistani who refused to meet with him or to meet with any of the Iraqi opposition so as to avoid the release of statement in his name to be explained that he stands neutral or supports the American- British occupation of Iraq.

Meanwhile, an American- British summit started yesterday in Belfast amid news on differences between London and Washington on the role of the UN in running the post-Saddam Iraq amid a demonstration that included more than 100,000 participants condemning the British- American war against Iraq.

Bush's coming to northern Ireland for the first time since his investiture as a president is considered as an appreciation of his gratitude for his friend Blair who sent 45,000 military men to take part beside the American forces in invading Iraq.

Previous Stories:
  Powell and rebuilding of Iraq   (4/7/2003)
  Americans of Arab origin on the war on Iraq   (4/7/2003)
  Iraq's representative at the AL stresses continued resistance   (4/7/2003)

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