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Defiant Iraq warns Coalition as bombing continues
Dubai, Mar 31: Unfazed by the relentless bombing of Baghdad and other key towns, a defiant Iraq today warned the invading US and British soldiers to surrender and withdraw or else the deserts would prove a `big graveyard` for them.
Dubai, Mar 31: Unfazed by the relentless bombing of Baghdad and other key towns, a defiant Iraq today warned the invading US and British soldiers to surrender and withdraw or else the deserts would prove a “big graveyard” for them.
On the 12th day of the war American stealth bombers and missiles pounded Baghdad targetting the Iraqi information ministry for the second time in as many days even as US claimed that its forces had killed about 100 Iraqi soldiers in and round the Shiite holy city of Najaf and captured dozens of Republic Guards in Hindiyah, a town south of Baghdad.
The state-run Iraqi television was back on air six hours after a Tomahawk missile damaged the high-rise building housing the studios of the television and offices of the information ministry.
As the coalition forces increased the intensity of the raids after ground troops apparently making no major breakthroughs in the face of stiff resistance, Iraq's foreign minister Naji Sabri while questioning the legitimacy of the war asked the invading soldiers to surrender and withdraw.
“America and Britain have no choice but to surrender and withdraw”, he told reporters in Baghdad.
“They will not leave our land safe and sound if they continue to be stubborn in their aggression...We will turn our deserts into a big graveyard for Americans and British,” he said.
In northern Iraq, coalition aircraft today pounded Iraqi positions in Kalak, a town just east of the strategic city of Mosul. Iraqis could be seen running for cover along the treeless ridge west of the Great Zab river.
On the 12th day of the war to oust Saddam Hussein, questions have arisen about the pace and impact of the US-led campaign. Despite claims of success, coalition forces appear to be bogged down in the south where an anticipated uprising by the Shiites to welcome US forces has not occurred. Closer to Baghdad, Saddam's defence appears more resilient than US war planners had anticipated.
US war leaders defended their strategy yesterday. “We have the power to be patient in this, and we're not going to do anything before we're ready”, said Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“It's going to get more difficult as we move closer to Baghdad,” US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.
“I would suspect that the most dangerous and difficult days are still ahead of us.”
In Nasiriyah, where fighting has been fierce for a week, US Marines secured buildings held by an Iraqi infantry division that contained large caches of weapons and chemical decontamination equipment. A Marine UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed last night at a forward supply and refueling point in southern Iraq, killing three people aboard.
So far about 42 American and 25 British soldiers have been killed. Seven Americans are being held prisoner, according to Iraqi officials and 17 others are reported missing. There are no estimates of Iraqi combatants killed, but officials in Baghdad say about 425 civilians have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded.
Bureau Report
“America and Britain have no choice but to surrender and withdraw”, he told reporters in Baghdad.
“They will not leave our land safe and sound if they continue to be stubborn in their aggression...We will turn our deserts into a big graveyard for Americans and British,” he said.
In northern Iraq, coalition aircraft today pounded Iraqi positions in Kalak, a town just east of the strategic city of Mosul. Iraqis could be seen running for cover along the treeless ridge west of the Great Zab river.
On the 12th day of the war to oust Saddam Hussein, questions have arisen about the pace and impact of the US-led campaign. Despite claims of success, coalition forces appear to be bogged down in the south where an anticipated uprising by the Shiites to welcome US forces has not occurred. Closer to Baghdad, Saddam's defence appears more resilient than US war planners had anticipated.
US war leaders defended their strategy yesterday. “We have the power to be patient in this, and we're not going to do anything before we're ready”, said Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“It's going to get more difficult as we move closer to Baghdad,” US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.
“I would suspect that the most dangerous and difficult days are still ahead of us.”
In Nasiriyah, where fighting has been fierce for a week, US Marines secured buildings held by an Iraqi infantry division that contained large caches of weapons and chemical decontamination equipment. A Marine UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed last night at a forward supply and refueling point in southern Iraq, killing three people aboard.
So far about 42 American and 25 British soldiers have been killed. Seven Americans are being held prisoner, according to Iraqi officials and 17 others are reported missing. There are no estimates of Iraqi combatants killed, but officials in Baghdad say about 425 civilians have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded.
Bureau Report