April 4, 2003	Friday	Safar 1, 1424

* Military sources say US forces fight Iraqis dug in at Baghdad International airport

* Dozens of Iraqis — civilians and soldiers — killed in strike on village near airport

* Electricity down in most of Baghdad for first time in war; US says has not targeted the capital’s power system

* US troops within 10kms of Baghdad’s southern limits

* Republican Guard units from four divisions head south from Baghdad to tackle US advance, US military says

* Rumsfeld says Syria still supplying Iraq

QUOTES

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf on US claims to be near Baghdad: “They’ve not been able to control any Iraqi city. We’re waging war against this snake and we will be victorious.”

CASUALTIES

* US - 55 killed, 12 missing; up to seven more killed in helicopter crash

* Britain — 27 killed

* Iraqi military — no confirmed figures

* Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates) — 1,250 killed, 5,103 injured

MILITARY ACTION

BAGHDAD: US special forces raid Tharthar Palace, around 90kms from Baghdad, one of Saddam’s residences

Four Iraqi Republican Guard divisions head south to defend Baghdad

CENTRAL IRAQ: US military trucks cross bridge over Tigris, west of city of Kut after Iraqi troops flee posts nearby

SOUTHERN IRAQ: F/A-18 Hornet fighter bomber shot down, fate of pilot unknown; US says investigates possibility of friendly fire by Patriot missile

US Marines tighten grip on Nassiriya after breaking Iraqi resistance from the Fedayeen militia who had control over past week

British troops edge two kilometres towards Basra

US Black Hawk helicopter crashes near Karbala.

NORTHERN IRAQ: Kurdish fighters battle towards Mosul —Reuters