1,400 Iraqis killed in battles

In a night of ferocious fighting, more than 1,000 soldiers were killed in a battle with the US infantry, while more than 400 died as the Americans took control of Baghdad airport.

In a separate battle at Baghdad airport, more than 400 Iraqis died as the Americans took control.

Dawn broke to reveal a scene of carnage all across the suburbs of the city. One TV reporter travelling with the US 3rd Infantry Division said his unit was now in "Greater Baghdad" after a battle that lasted nearly five hours with Fedayeen fighters and the Republican Guard.

Greg Kelly, with Fox Television, said one American soldier was killed and an M1 tank disabled after it was hit by rocket-propelled grenades. But he said at least 70 Iraqi T72 tanks had been destroyed and perhaps more than 1,000 Iraqis killed. "There was carnage all around," he said.

At least three US soldiers were killed, one by friendly fire, while others collapsed from exhaustion after fighting for hours in heat that rose to over 40C inside tanks and troop carriers. Hundreds of Iraqi soldiers were reported to have surrendered.

South of Baghdad, one US unit found 20 dead Iraqi troops wearing gas masks although there was no sign chemical weapons had been used. Just before dawn US commanders-said they had taken complete control of Baghdad's international airport. Troops were moving through the airport "building by building" clearing out pockets of resistance.

"It's a big area with a lot of buildings that need to be cleared, but it's ours," said Colonel John Peabody, commander of the Engineer Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division. At one stage armoured units destroyed a last ditch counter-attack when Saddam Hussein's commanders ordered troops in pick-up trucks, tanks and open lorries to rush at the Americans. Five Iraqi tanks were destroyed.

During the night CNN reported Iraqi officials were driving around Baghdad with loudspeakers urging residents to defend the airport. At least 400 Iraqi soldiers died in what US troops called "suicide buses".

Backed by air strikes, up to 15 tanks were left burning on the road to Saddam International Airport.

Live footage on American TV showed a burning Iraqi tank with a member of its crew dead in the turret. Another dead Iraqi solider lay in the road next to a disabled armoured personnel carrier, smoke pouring from its open hatch.

Sporadic gunfire could be heard as troops swept through hangars and terminal buildings as Cobra helicopter gunships provided cover.

There were reports that special forces had infiltrated Iraqi command positions and seized several dams north of Baghdad that had been wired with explosives and could have caused massive floods if destroyed.

The capture of the airport, which includes a key military facility, is a major achievement for the Allies and will allow them to airlift reinforcements, equipment and humanitarian aid directly to the front line.

US tanks rolled onto the runways after a dramatic engagement with Republic Guard soldiers along a single track road described by one reporter as a "shooting gallery" with Iraqis firing from all sides.

For four hours, tanks and Bradley armoured vehicles tried to pick out soldiers and fighters from civilians watching the armoured column pass.

"They're running alongside us," Staff Sergeant Bryce Ivings shouted into the intercom.

"Fire, fire, kill them," said Captain Chris Carter, the commanding officer of Alpha Company. "Got it."

Then Sgt Ivings spotted another group of fighters. "He's got a weapon, oh ... there's civilians in the way, he's using these people as shields," Ivings said. He did not fire.

Iraqis fired a rocket-propelled grenade that hit the turret of one of the Bradleys, injuring one of the soldiers seriously.

Another soldier was shot in the leg as he stepped from his refuelling vehicle and was pulled to safety.