US attack continues; summit in Moscow to face Bush and Blair rejection of UN role
Iraq-USA, Military, 4/9/2003

In the 20th day of the invasion of Iraq, Baghdad seemed to be lay bare in front the American jets, which for the first time flew at low altitude in its airspace and the tanks which took its streets, and targeted journalists of whom three were killed.

Meantime, and in conclusion of their summit held in Belfast for two days, the US President George Bush and the British prime minister Tony Blair rejected to define "the vital" role the UN to be played in the Post- Saddam Iraq and the two leaders deliberately drew vagueness on the nature of the administration which will rule Iraq and the duration it will take before it will move to the hands of the Iraqis.

The Kremlin yesterday announced that a quartet summit to be attended by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, the French President Jacque Chirac and the German Chancellor Gerhard Schreoder and the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will be held in Petersburg on Friday and Saturday in order to discuss the role of the UN in Iraq after the war, amid controversy in the world decision making capitals from Moscow to Paris, Washington and London on legalizing the American- British invasion of Iraq and recognition of the legitimacy of the American authority in it, which loomed yesterday with the deployment of 20 American observers of the Iraq-reconstruction office which is led by the former US Gen. Garner to Um al-Qaser port in southern Iraq.

It, however, seemed, through the process of military operations during the few past days, especially in Baghdad where Iraqi defense plans of the city are criticized, that the Iraqi leadership has collapsed, whether Saddam Hussein was killed or is alive, or this very Iraqi leadership is still solid and is preparing for another form of resistance.

The invading American forces witnessed violent fighting in an attempt to control al-Rasheed military airport in south west Baghdad.

The American forces entered Baghdad for the first time from the north side while the Iraqi leaders maintained their confidence that the Iraqi forces will not surrender and the invaders will be "burnt."

Following a violent bombardment which lasted all the day time yesterday, and with the fall of night, strong explosions were heard that seemed to be from the American tanks positioned on the western Bank of the Tigris river.

The raiding planes continued intensive raids at the positions of the Iraqi resistance and other targets in Baghdad and its surroundings, and the civilian quarters were not disclosed.

American officers stressed they launched strong battles in eastern Baghdad with Arab volunteers coming to defend Iraq from Jordan, Sudan and Egypt.

With the continued vagueness on the fate of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein after an assassination attempt made by one of the American forces at a restaurant in Baghdad, American officials said they received information that Hussein and his two sons Ode and Qusai were meeting in it, while American military men said that they started to look to Takrit, the birthplace of the Iraqi president, where he might have a secure resort.

Previous Stories:
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  Moroccan humanitarian aid to Iraqi people handed to ICRC in jordan   (4/8/2003)
  Moroccan NGOs condemn war on Iraq   (4/8/2003)
  Blair asks Bush for UN role; Invasion's tanks incurred in Baghdad test defenses   (4/8/2003)
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  US presentation of the status of the military attack of Iraq   (4/4/2003)

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