The Information Ministry and the Foreign Ministry in Baghdad are firmly in Iraqi hands, withheavily armed Republican Guards spread over the area takingfighting positions, witnesses reported today.
The Foreign Ministry is a few hundred metres fromone of the main gates of the presidential palace which USforces said they now occupied.
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Reuters correspondent Khaled Yacoub Oweis said RepublicanGuard units, each carrying half a dozen rocket-propelledgrenades, were spread over the area.
"There is a no man's land between the Iraqi troops andAmerican troops on the street in front of the ministry," hesaid.
Mr Oweis said many of the bridges that cross the Tigris arestill under the control of Iraqi forces but the bridge directlynext to the information ministry was open.
"Senek bridge is open but it's a combat zone once you cross,the more you head toward the palace," he said.
On the 19th day of the US-led war US soldiers claim to haveentered the heart of the capital city and drove two tanks deepinside a presidential palace.
Oweis said the white dust of mortar obscures the view infront of the presidential palace but in that area he saw dozensof Republican Guards wearing brand new green uniforms in fullcombat gear.
"They look very fresh, unlike the paramilitary," he said.