Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/7/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ BRIEFING (L)

NUMBER=2-301872

BYLINE=LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=AS SALIYAH, QATAR

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S forces have occupied Saddam Hussein's main presidential palace compound in the center of Baghdad as military operations expand across the country. V-O-A's Larry James has details on the campaign in this report from Central Command headquarters in Qatar.

TEXT: Military commanders say the second incursion by American troops into Baghdad in as many days demonstrates that coalition forces can operate when and where they wish.

Central Command spokesman, Brigadier General Vince Brooks said, however, there is likely to be more fighting ahead.

/// BROOKS ACT ///

We're a long way from being able to celebrate victory. We certainly continue to say that the outcome is not in doubt but there is still work for us to do.

/// END ACT ///

General Brooks would not say whether the incursion would be temporary, but left open the possibility that some forces might remain in the city.

/// 2ND BROOKS ACT ///

I think these are tactical decisions. There are opportunities that come from each action that is taken and then the commanders on the ground will decide if there is something new that needs to happen. So they will make the decisions what parts of Baghdad they wish to retain control of, where they want to conduct operations out of, whether they want to move to a different location.

/// END ACT ///

U-S military officials say they control all major roads leading to the city.

U-S forces also have begun using the Baghdad international airport, which they seized last week. A U-S military transport plane landed at the airport Sunday.

Central command also reports U-S troops have taken control of the center of Karbala, 80-kilometers south of Baghdad. Karbala is a holy city to Shi'ite Muslims. And in southern Iraq, British soldiers entered Basra from several fronts after a two-week siege, and say they control much of Iraq's second-largest city.

British Air Marshall Brian Burridge described what he called the historic events of the past 48-hours.

/// BURRIDGE ACT ///

After decades under the heel of Saddam's brutal regime, United Kingdom forces are in the process of delivering liberation to the people of Basra. There may be some difficult days ahead, but the Baathist regime is finished in Basra.

/// END ACT ///

Air Marshall Burridge said he could not confirm reports that Iraqi general Ali Hassan Al Majid, the man known as Chemical Ali, was killed by a coalition air raid. He said local sources in Basra say one of the bodies found is general Al-Majid.

General Al-Majid was in command of Iraqi defenses in the south of the country. He was said to have been responsible for using poison gas against Kurdish civilians in northern Iraq in 1988.

NEB/LDJ/AWP/RAE