April 2, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 29, 1424

* Saddam, in message read on state television, tells Iraqis to fight invaders “everywhere”, says Jihad is a duty

* Eight Iraqi civilians shot to death at US checkpoints, stoking Arab anger; US says not changing engagement rules

* US strike kills at least 11 civilians, mostly children, in central Iraq; new US division begins arriving in Kuwait

* Fierce bombing rocks southern approaches to Baghdad; blasts near Kirkuk; Iraq says thwarted UK troop landing in north

QUOTES

Saddam in message read on Iraqi state TV: “Hit them. Fight them. They are evil aggressors damned by God. You are victorious and they are defeated.”

Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan, responding to the Saudi foreign minister’s suggestion Saddam should step down: “You are a minion and a lackey... You failure, go to hell. All we wish is that you did not have an Arab name or Arab roots.”

CASUALTIES

* US - 51 killed, 14 missing

* Britain - 26 killed

* Iraqi military - no confirmed figures

* Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates) - 653 killed, 4,840 injured

MILITARY ACTION

BAGHDAD: Fresh airstrikes on Baghdad’s southern and western outskirts, after overnight raids hit presidential compound and headquarters of Iraqi Olympic Committee

SOUTHERN IRAQ: Iraqi missile launched from south of Baghdad towards Najaf brought down by Patriot battery; US says Iraqi missile fired at Kuwait, also shot down

On Monday, US troops advanced to outskirts of Hilla, 100 kms south of Baghdad; fighting erupted along Euphrates river front lines near ancient Babylon on same day, killing at least one American at Hindiya

Also on Monday, US Marines entered Shatra, while Iraq reported heavy fighting in and around Nassiriya

British Royal Marines continue operations south of Basra

NORTHERN IRAQ: US planes attacked targets close to Kirkuk.—Reuters