The Houston Chronicle April 10, 2003
War In Iraq: Day 22
As U.S.-led troops extended their occupation of the capital, Iraqis celebrated the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime on Wednesday, beheading a toppled statue of him in the center of Baghdad and looting government sites.
Key developments:
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says fighting in Iraq will continue for some time; says there is some intelligence Syria might be helping Saddam's supporters flee Iraq.
Vice President Dick Cheney says U.S. and Iraqi officials will meet in southern Iraq to begin planning for interim government; 14 exiles and 29 from inside country to take part, leading Iraqi politician says.
Arab nations withdraw request for a U.N. General Assembly meeting on Iraq.
Members of the 3rd Infantry Division conducted armored raids in the center of the city and in other areas.
Baghdad University was rocked by gunshots and explosions.
Rolling into the heart of Baghdad on the east bank of the Tigris River, Marine tanks were greeted by people clapping and waving white flags.
On Palestine Street, where the Baath Party held rallies, the warehouses of the Trade Ministry were looted.
Ransacked buildings include Iraq's Olympic headquarters, the state-owned Oil Marketing Co. and traffic police headquarters.
U.S. Marines topple giant statue of Saddam in al-Firdos Square to cheers of Iraqi crowd.
Elsewhere:
U.S. and Kurdish forces dislodge Iraqis from mountain used to defend the northern city of Mosul.
U.S. planes bomb Iraqi positions in Kirkuk but ground forces make slow progress.
Rescue teams are looking for two U.S. airmen from an F-15 fighter jet that went down near Tikrit on Monday.
Residents of Basra complain of a power vacuum as armed men roam streets, looting and pillaging.
GRAPHIC: Map: Location of incidents in Baghdad after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.; Houston Chronicle, Sources: National Imagery and Mapping Agency; GlobalSecurity.org; Associated Press; The New York Times; Reuters
Copyright © 2003, The Houston Chronicle Publishing Company
