Iraq briefing

Quick overview

The beginning of the ground battle for Baghdad has started to dismantle Saddam Hussein's 30-year-old Ba'ath Government with US forces launching a major offensive against at least two Republican Guard divisions. Special forces rescued 19-year-old Private Jessica Lynch and recovered the bodies of two other soldiers.

The fight

* US planes continue bombardment of Baghdad.

* US Marines seize Tigris River crossing at Kut. US officer says it is "last bridge we need".

* B-52 planes hit northern Iraqi frontline near Mosul.

* US troops in all-out battle at Karbala, 80km south of Baghdad.

* British forces in standoff with Iraqi troops at Basra.

Coming home

TV3 reporter Mike McRoberts has left Kuwait, and was due to arrive in New Zealand early today.

McRoberts, his cameraman and a producer spent 3 1/2 weeks reporting on the invasion of Iraq.

Mark Jennings, TV3 director of news and current affairs, said it was "not really on" for the team to enter Iraq and there was a limit to the stories they could do out of Kuwait. "It is our intention to send them back when the war is closer to completion."

Leaders

* Saddam Hussein reads message on Iraqi TV urging a holy war: "Hit them. Fight them. They are evil aggressors damned by God. You are victorious and they are defeated."

* US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says only "unconditional surrender" by Iraq will end war.

Casualties

* Pentagon reported 62 US deaths, 13 missing. British deaths 27. Iraqi sources estimate 653 civilians killed.

* No confirmed number of Iraqi military deaths.

Herald Feature: Iraq war