Seven women and children died after US troops fired at a van which failed to stop at an army checkpoint in southern Iraq.

Trading fire with Iraqis hidden behind brick walls and hedges, US troops spearheading the drive on Baghdad battled their way into Hindiyah today, capturing dozens of members of Saddam Hussein’s elite Republican Guard.

US FORCES in southern Iraq are braced for their biggest battle yet on the road to Baghdad – an expected clash near the Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala with elements of Iraq’s Republican Guard.

British forces were waiting for the order today to enter Basra in support of an apparent uprising by Iraqi civilians against Saddam Hussein’s militias.

Reports claim up to 750 Iraqi troops have been killed in battles with US forces near the Iraqi city of Najaf.

In one of the fastest penetrations of hostile territory ever recorded, the US 3rd Infantry division, 2nd Brigade covered 228 miles in less than 40 hours to take fighting positions near the halfway mark to Baghdad.

MUSHROOM clouds plumed into the skies over Baghdad last night as hundreds of cruise missiles and bombs rained down upon Iraq’s capital.

As Allied troops established their positions throughout the day, one British military spokesman said they could be on the streets of Baghdad within three to four days.

The US 7th Cavalry charged into Iraq today and by 6.30 (Irish time) were said to be halfway to Baghdad.

US marines rolled into Iraq tonight as massive explosions rocked Baghdad when the capital came under attack by cruise missiles and bombs.

The US 3rd Infantry Division’s artillery opened fire today on Iraqi troops with Paladin self-propelled howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems in the first stage of the ground war.