BAGHDAD: The aerial blitz of Baghdad appeared to grow heavier with massive explosions booming from the southern outskirts. Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al-Sahhaf said Thursday's air strikes in and around the city had killed 27 civilians and wounded 193.

SOUTH OF BAGHDAD: US forces sweeping past elite Iraqi troops moved to within 15 kilometers (nine miles) of downtown Baghdad and controlled the southern approaches to the capital, a commander said. US officers earlier said some 500 Iraqi troops were killed in clashes with US forces for a key bridge across the Euphrates River some 30 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Baghdad.

AL-KUT: US marines pushed cautiously towards Baghdad from the southeast, supported by renewed attacks on Iraqi defences in Al-Kut by coalition jets and attack helicopters. Supply trucks rushed ammunition, fuel and water to the front lines ahead of the next engagement with the Iraqi defences.

BASRA: British forces battling to take control of the southern port came under fire as they made further incursions into the city where officials warned some 1,000 Iraqi militiamen were still holding out. The British troops made little headway, advancing only one kilometer (less than a mile) from the south in the direction of the city centre.

NEAR KHAZER: Kurdish fighters backed by US planes clashed with Iraqi forces Thursday near an army command HQ in Khazer on the road to the major northern city of Mosul. US special forces stepped up joint operations with Kurdish rebels, including on the edge of the oil capital of Kirkuk, Kurdish military sources said.

SPACE.WIRE