WORLD NEWS

April 7, 2003

U.S. Troops Inside Baghdad

American troops storm the Iraqi capital, taking control of one of Saddam Hussein's palaces

U.S. troops moved into the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad over the weekend. In addition to taking control of the city's international airport, American troops also captured one of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s presidential palaces. As dozens of tanks roared through the capital city, a 40-foot-tall statue of Hussein fell to the ground.

Inside an Iraqi Presidential Palace

On the outside, Hussein's presidential palace showed recent effects of bombing. But inside, the furniture was painted gold. U.S. troops found swimming pools, gold-painted glassware, and an advanced video and sound system. But outside Hussein's palaces, in Iraq itself, more than half the population depends on international help for food.

Throughout the weekend in Baghdad, U.S. troops said Iraqis showed little ability to fight back. "We can basically go wherever we want, whenever we want ...," U.S. Colonel David Perkins said about U.S. control over the Iraqi capital. But Iraqi officials denied that U.S. and British troops were inside Baghdad. Meanwhile, in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, British forces began to take control and were welcomed by hundreds of Iraqis.

War Takes Its Toll

As of April 7, 110 British and American soldiers had died during the war with Iraq. It is unknown how many Iraqis have been killed or injured during the war. But it has been reported that thousands of Iraqi troops and citizens have died.

Bush and Blair Meet

On Monday, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair met in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They discussed the war and rebuilding Iraq once the war is over. They also talked about the role the United Nations should play in the development of a new government in Iraq.

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