- AS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar (Reuters)
- The U.S. military said on Saturday its troops would continue moving into
Baghdad as and when it chose, but that the war against Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein's forces was far from over.
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- Citing a foray into central Baghdad by U.S. forces earlier
on Saturday, Major-General Victor Renuart told a news conference: "This
is a clear statement of the ability of coalition forces to move into Baghdad
at times of their choosing. These kinds of operations will continue."
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- "But this fight is far from over," he added.
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- Renuart, speaking at the U.S.-led war headquarters in
Qatar, said the main aim of the push into central Baghdad -- which has
been denied by the Iraqi government -- was psychological.
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- "The message...really is to in a way put a bit of
an exclamation point on the fact that coalition troops are in the vicinity
of Baghdad...and demonstrate to the Iraqi leadership that they do not have
control in the way they continue to say on their television," he said.
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- "I think that on the battlefield messages are critical
to your strategy."
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- U.S. troops captured the airport on Friday morning. Iraq
said it regained control of the facility on Saturday after inflicting heavy
casualties on the invaders, but Renuart said the airport was "secure."
-
- Renuart said U.S. forces had engaged in intense fighting
with Iraqi irregular forces, Republican Guards and Special Republican Guards,
but added that many ordinary Iraqis had welcomed the invading troops.
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- "People are standing on the sidewalk waving to us.
There are people who appear to acknowledge the presence of coalition forces
in the area favorably," he said.
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- Renuart said the U.S. forces were also looking to restore
the power to Baghdad, which has endured an electricity blackout since Thursday
evening. The United States and Britain have denied their bombing raids
caused the power outage.
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- "As we are able to create more stability we will
try to return normal services to the people of Baghdad," he said.
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- Renuart said the United States believed at least one
of the runways at Baghdad airport, which is about 20 km (12 miles) from
the center of the capital, would be functional soon.
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