m
	A giant statue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is brought down in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/Koji Harada, Kyodo)

End of War May be In Sight

The war with Iraq appeared to be drawing to a close in early April. Troops from the United States and its allies held large parts of the Middle Eastern nation. Parts of the capital city of Baghdad were under control of American forces.

A large number of people had been killed in 20 days of fighting. The American military said April 8 that 96 of its troops had been killed. British forces said 30 of its troops had died.

American forces said thousands of Iraqi troops had died in the fighting. But Iraqi officials denied losing control of the country. They blamed American and British forces for killing large numbers of civilians. Hospitals in Baghdad were said to be overloaded with wounded civilians.

U.S. captures airports and palaces

U.S. soldiers and marines captured two airports in Baghdad. They also took over several presidential palaces in the city. 

“The tactical side of this is about to come to an end,” said American Army Colonel David Perkins on April 8. Perkins was in Baghdad when he made the comment.

Iraq's information minister spoke to reporters in Baghdad on many days during the war. Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf said on April 8 that Iraqi forces would not give up.

“They will be burnt,” al-Sahhaf said about the invading troops. “We are going to tackle them.”

U.S. officials in the military and in Washington said they were not sure when the fighting would end.

American President George Bush said invading troops would leave Iraq as soon as a democratic government takes office. 

About 35 nations are involved in the effort to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. But most of the fighting was done by American and British forces.

Bush ordered the attack. Bush said he had proof that Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations barred Iraq from having weapons that could kill thousands and even millions of people.

Bush said he ordered the attack because Hussein had not cooperated with weapons inspectors from the United Nations. Inspectors were working in the country until a few days before the first attack on March 19. 

Bush also said Hussein was a dictator who should be removed from power. Bush said that inspectors had been given enough time.