> World - Reuters > > Iraq Reports Fierce Fighting at Nassiriya > Mon Mar 31, 9:00 PM ET > > BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq said its troops were > battling > U.S.-led invasion forces inside Nassiriya and on the > city outskirts on Tuesday, inflicting heavy > casualties. > An Iraqi military spokesman speaking on television > at > almost 2 a.m. local time stressed the fighting was > still going on. > > > "The blood of the enemy is flowing profusely," said > the unidentified spokesman. "God bless your hands. > Victory will be yours. God is by your side." > > > Reading a statement, he said that over the past 24 > hours Iraqi forces had killed at least 60 U.S. and > British troops, destroyed more than 35 vehicles and > downed over five enemy aircraft in battles and > ambushes throughout Iraq. > > > The U.S. and British military put their casualties > at > 46 U.S. killed and 17 missing, and 25 British dead, > since the war began on March 20. > > > The Iraqi forces fighting in and around Nassiriya > included members of the elite Republican Guard, > regular army troops, Arab volunteers, ordinary > people > and Baath Party militia, he said. > > > Nassiriya, which lies some 235 miles southeast of > the > capital Baghdad, has been the scene of heavy > fighting > during the past week. > > > President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) had > awarded compensation to families of slain members of > the 11th Brigade fighting in Nassiriya, the > spokesman > said, quoting a presidential decree. He put the > compensation at about $650 per family. > > > U.S. Marines fought their way across the city's > bridges last Tuesday but did not take control of the > city from mainly paramilitary fighters. Since then, > Iraqi forces have carried out several ambushes in > the > area. > > > The Iraqi spokesman also said U.S. forces had > launched > an attack on Najaf in the past few hours. Fighters > inside the city, some 100 miles south of Baghdad, > had > forced them to retreat after suffering heavy losses, > he said. > > > Saddam had awarded medals to some Iraqi commanders > on > the battlefield and others posthumously to several > troops who had died in combat, according to > presidential decrees read out television.
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