US troops fought pitched battles with Iraq's Republican Guard within 50 to 100 miles of the Iraqi capital yesterday, while allied aircraft continued striking targets in and around Baghdad in advance of the decisive battle of the war, write Deaglán de Bréadún, in Doha and Conor O'Clery, in New York
A low-flying allied warplane launched two missiles into President Saddam Hussein's Republican Palace compound yesterday afternoon, sending a vast plume of black smoke into the air. Several hours later, Iraqi television showed footage of the President chairing a meeting of senior advisers, including his elder son, Uday.
Two US soldiers from the 1st and 2nd brigades of the 101st Airborne Division were killed in the south-central city of Najaf. The 2nd brigade is fighting from the north and the 1st is closing in from the south to try to isolate the heavily populated Shiite Muslim holy city about 100 miles south of Baghdad.
Heavily armed US troops with the 3rd Infantry Division advanced into the town of Hindiyah, 50 miles from Baghdad. At least 35 Iraqis were reported dead and several dozen captured. They were identified as members of the Republican Guard's Nebuchadnezzar Brigade, based in President Saddam's home-town of Tikrit.
In defiant mood, Iraq's Foreign Minister, Mr Naji Sabri, urged allied forces to surrender. "They will not leave our land safe and sound if they continue to be stubborn in their aggression," he said. "We will turn our deserts into a big graveyard for the Americans and British."
Allied warplanes, including B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, continued striking command and control centres in Baghdad.
Despite another attempt to halt state broadcasts from the city in a missile attack on the Information Ministry, Iraqi authorities said their technicians had repaired damage to transmitters.
The protracted struggle for Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, continued as British forces engaged with Iraqi militia. A spokesman for the allies admitted there were still areas "under the boot of the Iraqi regime" in the city.
Basra was initially expected to fall easily to the allies, with Shiite Muslim residents rising up against the Iraqi regime. Reports that an Iraqi general had been captured proved incorrect and a British military spokesman said five officers of less senior rank had been taken.
North of Baghdad, Kurdish forces, assisted by US air support and military advisers, took over territory vacated by retreating Iraqi forces. But the Kurds advanced less than 10 miles, reportedly due to the prevalence of landmines in the area.
US President George Bush last night pledged that a "mighty force" of US-led troops and armour would win victory in Iraq, though "many dangers lie ahead".
"The dictator's regime has ruled by fear and continues to use fear as a tool of domination to the end."
Mr Bush's remarks, delivered to coast guards in Philadelphia, came a short time after the Pentagon claimed US and British air strikes had caused "a very significant weakening" of Republican Guard troops on the outskirts of Iraq.
Defence Department spokesman Maj Gen Stanley McChrystal told reporters that 3,000 precision-guided bombs were dropped on Iraqi forces over the weekend, more than a third of the total dropped since the war began.
He said the Iraqi defence system was breaking down because the US airstrikes had "degraded" its capabilities. "We are seeing some movement of Republican Guard formations as well."
In London, the British Defence Minister, Mr Geoff Hoon, said there were now about 8,000 Iraqis held as prisoners of war - twice the number claimed last week. The Red Cross visited POWs held by allied forces in southern Iraq but was still awaiting permission to see six US POWs allegedly taken by the Iraqis.
On the diplomatic front, it was announced that the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, would visit Brussels and Ankara this week to restore relations with Turkey and outline US plans to NATO allies.