- BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Even
the days are dark in Baghdad.
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- Clouds of thick black smoke from oil-filled trenches
set ablaze by Iraqi forces to try to hinder U.S.-British air strikes blot
out the sun and rasp on five million throats.
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- The dark pall from the oil fires started on Saturday
has added to the grim atmosphere of a city facing invasion, but many Iraqis
believe it can bolster the capital's air defenses.
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- "We're all inhaling oil smoke, but we must accept
it because this is our country. It's a tactic to divert the missiles and
warplanes," said Saheb Mehdi, 42, a father of three.
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- In fact, the smokescreen offers little defense against
the satellite-guided weapons used by the United States and Britain.
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- Defying a morning air raid, many Baghdad residents ventured
out to buy food in their neighborhoods on Sunday. Some bakeries, groceries
and other food shops were open. Many women shopped quickly for the daily
meal and hurried home.
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- Baghdad is turning into a city with two lives, determined
by the rhythm of the air raids, which are heaviest after dark.
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- At night, people stay at home or in bomb shelters. By
day they emerge to buy food and check on relatives.
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- Many women say they use the morning lull to prepare a
meal for the evening before the bombardment starts. Even when a huge explosion
rocked the city on Sunday, most of them ignored it.
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- "I got a chicken and some vegetables to cook a decent
meal for the children today. I could not cook yesterday," said Um
Bassel, referring to Saturday's repeated daylight air strikes.
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- Fresh raids shook Baghdad overnight as U.S. armored columns
pushed northwards toward the capital, the main objective in the four-day-old
war to topple President Saddam Hussein.
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- CITY AT WAR
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- Despite the feverish food shopping, Baghdad was far from
normal. Soldiers with rifles were on the streets. Traffic policemen wore
camouflage helmets and manned checkpoints.
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- The extent of bomb damage to military positions and intelligence
headquarters was not visible from the street, but some debris indicated
they had been targeted.
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- Six civilian homes were demolished in the Qadissiya district
on Saturday by what residents said were cruise missiles. The area is about
three km (two miles) from a presidential palace.
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- Adults say they have learned to cope with the blitz,
but are distressed that their children have to endure it.
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- "Our children are usually in bed when the attacks
start and they jump from fear," said Mehdi, who was buying meat.
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- "My grandchild now jumps at hearing a door slamming
so imagine what is happening to him when he hears the missiles striking.
What have these children done to live like that?" added Umm Hanan,
50, who was also shopping for food.
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- Many people are resentful at having to go through a third
war in two decades -- one they blame on the United States.
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- "We've got nothing to do with this war. It is out
of our control. The Americans are imposing it on us. This is our country,
where can we go? We're staying here," Ali Shaker said.
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- "We are peaceful people, we're not meddling in the
business of anybody. Why are they coming to hurt us? We haven't done anything
to anybody," said Um Bassel, 45.
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- On the streets, the talk was of how long the war would
last, with many residents predicting that any battle for Baghdad would
be much slower and more painful than the United States expects. But many
Iraqis seemed more interested in surviving the conflict than in its outcome.
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- "People want peace. They don't care about the regime
or the Americans. Their main priority is the safety of their women and
children," said Moataz Sadeq, 48, a teacher.
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- MURKY INFORMATION
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- For some, the fog of war seems as thick as the oil smoke
darkening the sky over Baghdad.
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- "Yesterday afternoon, we heard that an Iraqi division
had surrendered. Three hours later there was a denial and we heard that
it was still resisting. It depends on who you listen to, but it is all
confusing," Mehdi said.
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- Shaken residents are angry at the terrifying scale of
the air raids and bitter that their lives are being stunted by war.
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- "I feel sad for all the time that is being robbed
from our lives with these wars," said Ismael Abdul-Razak, a merchant.
"Our children are losing the opportunity of learning. They have missed
a lot of school years because of war." Even for people who have experienced
many past air raids, Friday's night's blitz that tore into Baghdad was
shocking.
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- Most cowered at home, but Suha Ali had to brave the inferno
to drive her sister to hospital when she went into labour.
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- "It was a night of hell. I won't forget it all my
life. We had to drive like crazy to get her to hospital," Ali said.
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- "She had a baby daughter and thank God she is fine."
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