Saddam's Militiamen Appear in Baghdad
By HAMZA HENDAWI
Associated Press Writer
April 5, 2003, 10:11 AM EST
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Black-clad members of President Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen militia appeared Saturday for the first time in the streets of central Baghdad, where the arrival of U.S.-led forces created a storm of rumors and confusion.
U.S. troops penetrated the city for the first time, traveling north into the capital and turning west at the Tigris River, out of the city and toward the airport, a U.S. Central Command spokesman said.
A reporter touring the city of 5 million by car at midday saw no coalition soldiers. Asked at a briefing why no reporters had spotted them, the spokesman, Maj. Gen. Gene Renuart, suggested that in a city so big, it was easy to miss them.
"I'm pretty comfortable that in some parts of downtown London you can't see what is going on in other parts of downtown London," he told a British reporter. "I can't give you any better answer than that."
>>
There appeared to be fewer armed men on downtown streets than about a week ago. But members of Saddam's Fedayeen, a militia led by Saddam's son Odai, appeared in the city center for the first time since the war began. They were easily identified in distinctive black uniforms.
Speaking to the Al-Arabiya Arab satellite channel, a man who claimed to be a member of the Fedayeen vowed to keep up the fight.
"They are cowards. They cannot face us on the ground. They control the sky, but we are able to confront whoever goes on the ground," said the man, who covered his face with a red-checkered keffiyah to conceal his identity.
Knots of soldiers clad in Republican Guard uniforms, distinctive by their red triangular insignia, patrolled the southern outskirts of Baghdad around the neighborhood of Baladiya.
Bombing and artillery fire sounded throughout that area, anti aircraft guns and mortars lined the southern entrance to the city, but they were mostly off the road away from the main road -- the most likely entry point of American forces.
The U.S. military said it had already penetrated deep into the capital.
"As of this morning, coalition forces are actually in the city of Baghdad," said Navy Capt. Frank Thorp. "As we moved into the city, we saw sporadic fighting, we've actually moved through the Republican Guard divisions to pretty much the center of the city."
Throughout the morning, armed men in pickup cars dashed across Baghdad at high speed.
By HAMZA HENDAWI
Associated Press Writer
April 5, 2003, 10:11 AM EST
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Black-clad members of President Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen militia appeared Saturday for the first time in the streets of central Baghdad, where the arrival of U.S.-led forces created a storm of rumors and confusion.
U.S. troops penetrated the city for the first time, traveling north into the capital and turning west at the Tigris River, out of the city and toward the airport, a U.S. Central Command spokesman said.
A reporter touring the city of 5 million by car at midday saw no coalition soldiers. Asked at a briefing why no reporters had spotted them, the spokesman, Maj. Gen. Gene Renuart, suggested that in a city so big, it was easy to miss them.
"I'm pretty comfortable that in some parts of downtown London you can't see what is going on in other parts of downtown London," he told a British reporter. "I can't give you any better answer than that."
>>
There appeared to be fewer armed men on downtown streets than about a week ago. But members of Saddam's Fedayeen, a militia led by Saddam's son Odai, appeared in the city center for the first time since the war began. They were easily identified in distinctive black uniforms.
Speaking to the Al-Arabiya Arab satellite channel, a man who claimed to be a member of the Fedayeen vowed to keep up the fight.
"They are cowards. They cannot face us on the ground. They control the sky, but we are able to confront whoever goes on the ground," said the man, who covered his face with a red-checkered keffiyah to conceal his identity.
Knots of soldiers clad in Republican Guard uniforms, distinctive by their red triangular insignia, patrolled the southern outskirts of Baghdad around the neighborhood of Baladiya.
Bombing and artillery fire sounded throughout that area, anti aircraft guns and mortars lined the southern entrance to the city, but they were mostly off the road away from the main road -- the most likely entry point of American forces.
The U.S. military said it had already penetrated deep into the capital.
"As of this morning, coalition forces are actually in the city of Baghdad," said Navy Capt. Frank Thorp. "As we moved into the city, we saw sporadic fighting, we've actually moved through the Republican Guard divisions to pretty much the center of the city."
Throughout the morning, armed men in pickup cars dashed across Baghdad at high speed.
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