US troops enter Baghdad - reports thru 11:25 PM PST April 4

["Ralph Johansen" <michele@xxxxxxxx>]

US TANKS ENTER BAGHDAD!


Frontlines [SF]
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9:OO pm (PST)- 9:00 AM (Baghdad Time) - The US First Tank Brigade just
entered Baghdad from the Southwest outskirts.

9:15 PM (PST) - 9:15 AM (Baghdad Time)- There are visible signs of bombing
with tens of Iraqi tanks and APCs burning on the sides of the road.
Below, you'll find more reports

9:25 PM (PST) - 9:25 AM (Baghdad Time)- One of the invading tanks disabled.
Unclear whether was due to enemy fire or mechanical problems.
The column of tanks are taking fire of small arms from both sides of the
road. Tanks are returning fire with heavy machine guns and tank artillery.
The US Command reported that was a "probing" mission.
10:05 PM (PST) - 10:05 AM (Baghdad Time)- Very few civilians are seen on the
sides of the road. They are waving white flags to avoid being shot at.
It is reported that the 3rd of Infantry and the 101 of the Marines are the
forces which penetrated the City of Baghdad.
There are reports of pickup trucks with machine guns on their backs
attacking the tanks but reporters traveling with the US forces said that
they are systematically blown up.
The infamous Col. Oliver North, the "hero" of the contragate scandal is one
of the two first "journalists" with the US forces inside Baghdad.
10:20 PM (PST) - 10:20 AM (Baghdad Time)- The tanks entering Baghdad are
shooting constantly at buildings and houses on the sides of the road. One
journalist from the most US right wing TV network described the scene as
"shooting practice."
10:55 PM (PST) - 10:55 AM (Baghdad Time)-
Fox news lost contact with one of their reporters with the invading force
inside Baghdad for the last hour.
Images from Downtown Baghdad transmited by al-Jazeera show an almost normal
city life. But there are much fewer cars and people than usual.

11:05 PM (PST) - 11:05 AM (Baghdad Time)-
There are contradictory reports that some of the forces which entered
Baghdad are continuing their incursion, penetrating deep into the capital
after three hours of uninterrupted march, but other units were ordered to
retreat, according to AP. This is unconfirmed.
According to military officers on the ground, the idea would be to section
off areas of the city and control them militarily, especially the
Southeastern Shiita's neighborhoods.
There are reports of renewed firefights at the airport where US forces still
don't hold the field entirely under their control.
11:10 PM (PST) - 11:10 AM (Baghdad Time)-
Some of the US troops were recalled and sent to re-enforce the troops
battling at the airport, while some units from the Marines were ordered to
continue their advance towards downtown Baghdad. This was just confirmed by
FOX news with correspondents "embedded" with the troops.
Reporters with the troops said that there were no expression of support from
civilians and that most of them kept themselves out of sight.

11:25 PM (PST) - 11:25 AM (Baghdad Time)-

Report from al-Jazeera about the effects of the bombing against the Iraqi
defenders of the airport last night:

"There was bombing all night. It was a night of hell," said one woman, who
was shaking in fear after her drive from the airport district. "We saw that
they have entered Baghdad, there were planes all night dropping bombs and
there was shelling all night."

The woman, who had stopped to buy bread at a bakery, described the overnight
fighting as ”terrifying… not just for the kids but for us adults.” She also
said that many of her neighbours in the Radwaniya suburb near the airport
were also fleeing to seek refuge with friends and relatives closer to the
centre.

She was one of many who fled the district which is 20 km southwest of the
city center. Others drove with excessive speed on the main highway from the
airport, loading the roof of their cars with blankets and possessions.

"It was one of the worst nights of bombing," said Rakid Abdel-Karim, who
works in the bakery on the airport road.