WORLD NEWS

  March 23, 2003

The Latest from Iraq

Fierce battles were waged around Iraq all weekend

U.S.-led troops just finished a tough weekend of fighting in Iraq. Soldiers on the ground continued making their way toward Baghdad, Iraq's capital. Others faced a hard time fighting for control of Umm Qasr, a port city on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Although hundreds of Iraqi troops have reportedly surrendered, other Iraqis are fighting back fiercely.

"There's no cheering or high-fiving whatsoever," said a senior White House aide. "This is not a cakewalk." By the end of last week, Pentagon officials said they were pleased with the pace of the campaign, as U.S. forces pushed more than 150 miles into Iraq. But there was also plenty of anxiety about the hazards that might still lie in wait.

At night, U.S. bombs and missiles continued to rain down on Baghdad. U.S. officials say that they want to destroy military equipment and government buildings to make Baghdad safer when ground troops arrive later this week.

Caught in the Crossfire

Iraq reported that dozens of people who are not in the military have been hurt in the bombings. Also at risk in this war are the many reporters who have been allowed to travel with the troops as they progress across Iraq. The British news agency ITN said it had "sufficient evidence" to believe that its reporter, Terry Lloyd, was killed in southern Iraq Saturday. Some military experts believe that letting reporters travel with troops is far too dangerous. Others say that the only way for the world to get the real news from the warfront is to let reporters get as close to the battlefield as possible.

People who oppose the war gathered again in many cities across the nation, and around the world, including New York City; Lahore, Pakistan; and in New Mexico near the vacation home of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. They carried signs, wore shirts with slogans and chanted to show their strong feelings against the war. Despite those strong feelings, polls show that most Americans, about 70 percent, support the war.

Meanwhile, weather forecasters predicted bad sandstorms in Iraq and Kuwait over the next few days. Tough battle conditions might get even more difficult once the storms arrive.

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/news/story/0,6260,435992,00.html