Intense Clashes Between American Forces and Iraqi Soldiers on the Outskirts of Tikrit - 2003-04-13

Intense clashes are reported between American forces and Iraqi soldiers on the outskirts of the key city of Tikrit, the birthplace of the ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the last stronghold of his regime. According to reports, heavy fighting can be heard in the outskirts of the city. A Canadian journalist reported that the Americans began their attacks, which involved the use of tanks and helicopters, this afternoon. Earlier, the coalition command in Iraq stated that Marines operating around Tikrit had found seven American prisoners of war alive. U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated that two of the soldiers have gunshot wounds. These soldiers, one of whom is an African American woman, have been airlifted to Kuwait. Their relatives have been informed of the safety of these former prisoners of war. Some were able to identify their relatives directly through television images. The U.S. Marines found these soldiers while moving towards Tikrit from Baghdad. Initial images broadcast today by CNN showed abandoned armored vehicles on a road leading to Tikrit. These images also depicted military bases that showed no signs of Iraqi soldiers being present. Meanwhile, armed individuals stopped the CNN news crew on their way to Tikrit and ordered them to turn back. Upon their return, the CNN crew reported gunfire directed at their convoy, stating that although they were unharmed, two of their companions were injured. In northern Iraq, reports also indicate that American soldiers have entered Mosul and Kirkuk, which had previously been abandoned by Iraqi soldiers.