Violent blasts heard from Baghdad rim, near airport

BAGHDAD (AFP) Apr 03, 2003
The echoes of violent blasts southwest of Baghdad, the site of Saddam International Airport, were heard by AFP journalists in the center of the Iraqi capital.

The bombardments were heard just before 1:30 am Friday (2130 GMT Thursday) after a pause of several hours in the air raids, and comments from US military officials that coalition forces had taken partial control of the airport 20 kilometers (12 miles) from central Baghdad.

SPACE.WIRE