April 5, 2003	Saturday	Safar 2, 1424

* Big explosion hits presidential complex in central Baghdad; Artillery fire heard over southwestern Baghdad, from direction of capital’s airport

* Iraqi TV shows footage of President Saddam visiting bombed areas of Baghdad on Friday; TV also shows Mr Saddam reading statement to nation, he mentions US Apache helicopter downed March 24

* Iraq says may take non-conventional action “tonight”, on US-led forces at Baghdad airport, says no plans to use chemical or biological weapons

* US says hundreds of troops to reinforce Baghdad airport overnight

* US says finds vials of mystery powder and liquid in two sites near Baghdad; also thinks has found training school for chemical, biological warfare

* US says three coalition soldiers killed, two injured when vehicle exploded at checkpoint northwest of Baghdad; blast also killed Iraqi driver and pregnant woman

QUOTES

Saddam shown on TV reading statement: “You beloved ones, the people of Baghdad and the people of Iraq...with the will of God you will be victorious and by the will of God they will be defeated and damned.”

Iraqi Information Minister Sahaf: “We will commit a non-conventional act on them, not necessarily military... We will do something that will be a great example for these mercenaries.”

Sahaf, asked if Iraq would used weapons of mass destruction: “No, not at all. But we will conduct a kind of martyrdom operation.”

CASUALTIES

* US - 61 killed, 12 missing; up to seven more possibly killed in helicopter crash

* Britain - 27 killed

* Iraqi military - US says 320 Iraqi soldiers killed in battle for Baghdad airport. Iraqi authorities give no figures for military losses in war

* Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates) - 1,252 killed, 5,103 injured

MILITARY ACTION

BAGHDAD: US says troops breach Baghdad’s defensive ring, 2,500 Baghdad Republican Guards surrender, Marines closing in on new southeastern front.—Reuters