Invasion forces mounted one of their fiercest air assaults yet on Baghdad on Saturday, targeting the center and outskirts of the city with repeated bombings that drew blasts of Iraqi anti-aircraft fire. The new attacks followed an overnight strike on Iraq's Information Ministry and a marketplace blast that killed dozens of civilians.
Several large blasts shook the city center after dark on Saturday. Fierce attacks beginning on Saturday afternoon also targeted outlying areas where Iraq's Republican Guard are believed to be dug in to defend the capital against advancing invasion forces. The attacks on the outskirts lasted for hours.
"There has been very heavy bombardment to the south and to the west. It seems unprecedented," a Reuters correspondent said. "It is clear this is a major bombing campaign. The thuds of explosions just don't stop.
Meanwhile, Iraq's vice president said the suicide bombing which killed four American troops is "just the beginning."
The attack was described by Iraqi TV as the "Blessed beginning on the road of martyrdom" against the US.
Iraqi vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan vowed more will follow. He said: "This is just the beginning. You'll hear more pleasant news later.
"It will be routine military policy. We will use any means to kill our enemy in our land and we will follow the enemy into its land.
"The United States will turn the whole world to martyrs against it. What do they expect? The Arabs and Muslims are not allowed to develp missiles and bombs as powerful as theirs."
The bombing happened on Saturday at a road checkpoint north of Najaf.
The suicide bomber, named as non-commissioned army officer Ali Jaafar al-Noamani, has been awarded two posthumous medals by Saddam Hussein. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
