Iraq today claimed ”many, many” civilians were killed after coalition bombs or missiles hit a market in Baghdad.
An Iraqi defence ministry representative said there were at least 12 dead and 30 injured in the air raid on a heavily-populated area in the north of the city.
The scene of the explosion, in the Al-Shaab district, is 15 minutes from the centre of Baghdad. Witnesses described hearing a low flying aircraft followed by two loud explosions.
Western journalists who were on the scene in minutes said they had counted at least 15 bodies.
The Arabic satellite television channel al-Jazeera showed several charred cars at the scene and at least one bloodied body was being carried away.
Hundreds of people stood in front of what appeared to be a bombed-out building, some with their firsts in the air and shouting: ”There is no God but God.”
In London, the prime minister’s official spokesman said that Downing Street was seeking information about the Baghdad market blast, but at this stage did not know the cause of the explosion.
He added: ”We have always accepted that there will be some very regrettable civilian casualties.”
In the 1991 Gulf War, an RAF Tornado hit a market in the city with a stray bomb, killing a reported 130 people and wounding 78.
The RAF apologised and called the incident a ”one-off”. But it was one in a series of ”collateral damage” incidents that led to charity the Red Crescent to estimate that as many as 7 000 civilians had been killed in bombing raids.
Basra leadership targeted
British commanders were today trying to establish the extent of the Iraqi opposition in Basra after last night’s brief uprising against Saddam Hussein’s feared security service.
The 7th Armoured Brigade’s artillery shelled Iraqi mortar positions in the city which began firing on opposition elements following exchanges of small arms fire.
Air strikes were also called in and the Ba’ath party headquarters was ”substantially destroyed” in the overnight attack.
While there were reports of continued skirmishing on the outskirts, military sources said that there were no immediate plans by British forces encircling Basra to enter the city.
Commanders are anxious to avoid any action that could trigger a bloodbath of civilians by security force elements loyal to Saddam.
This morning Iraqi information minister Mohammed al-Sahhaf denied any uprising in Basra. ”The situation is stable,” he said. ”Resistance is continuing and we are teaching them more lessons.”
Aid supplies arrive
The first sizeable relief convoy arrived in Iraq today despite a fierce sandstorm that cut visibility to 90 metres.
Three days after the US president, George Bush, promised ”massive amounts” of humanitarian aid, seven large, battered tractor trailers arrived in Umm Qasr carrying food and water donated by Kuwaitis. The convoy was escorted by US soldiers.
”We planned for 30 trucks but we only got seven loaded because of the severe sandstorm,” said EJ Russell of the Humanitarian Operations Center, a joint US-Kuwaiti agency.
Meanwhile, the British naval ship Sir Galahad, carrying 211 tons of food and 101 tons of bottled water, today began the six-hour journey from the Khor Abdallah estuary to Umm Qasr.
Yesterday, the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, warned the US that it is legally responsible for providing relief aid.
Iraqis have about five weeks of food left, according to estimates by the World Food Programme. About 13-million people — 60% of Iraq’s 22-million — are completely dependent on food handouts.
In a related development, drinking water supplies in Basra have been partially reconnected, the Red Cross confirmed today. There have been fears of a major outbreak of disease following reports that the city’s 1,5-million citizens were being forced to drink river water, which has been polluted by sewage upstream.
Iraqi TV back on air
Iraqi state television was back on air this morning despite a heavy dawn bombing raid that targeted the country’s national station.
The station began broadcasting verses from the Koran at around 0600 GMT as normal this morning, quashing US hopes that Saddam Hussein’s lines of communication with his people had been cut.
Amnesty International today warned that the TV station bombing could be in breach of the Geneva convention.
Troops continue push for Baghdad
US marines continued to push north from the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya today, shelling suspected Iraqi positions as they did so.
After finally punching through fierce Iraqi resistance from Fedayeen militia units on the Euphrates river yesterday, the forces are laying down barrages of artillery as they move towards Baghdad. Officers said they were prepared for more heavy fighting along the way.
Meanwhile, US commanders reported that ”large numbers” of Iraqi forces had been killed during a major battle yesterday evening near the town of Najaf, 160 kilometres south of Baghdad.
The Pentagon said 150 to 300 Iraqis might have been killed and two US tanks were destroyed in the bloodiest battle so far.
British soldiers named
The two soldiers killed by fire from another British tank in southern Iraq were named today as Corporal Stephen Allbutt (35) a married father of two, and unmarried Trooper David Clarke (19).
The men, both from central England, died on Monday night when their Challenger 2 tank fighting Iraqi forces west of Basra was mistakenly targeted by another British tank.
A total of 22 British servicemen are now listed as dead or missing in the Iraq war. Only two have been killed in action. British fatalities for the whole of the 1991 Gulf war totalled 24.
Turkey ‘will consult US’ on troop movements
Turkey’s military chief today suggested that America would be consulted on any decision to send more Turkish troops into Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq.
The armed forces chief of general staff, Hilmi Ozkok, told a news conference: ”Undertakings will be coordinated with the United States, our strategic ally still fighting a war in the region, to avoid any misunderstandings.”
Last week, Turkey said it was moving 1 500 commandos into the region to protect its border against massive numbers of refugees expected to flee the war — despite US fears that conflict between Turks and Kurds could undermine its military operation in Iraq.
Today’s softening of the Turkish position follows a surprise announcement by the US yesterday of a proposed $8,5-billion loan to help protect Turkey’s frail economy recover from the impact of war. – Guardian Unlimited Â