Hospitals in chaos as US prepares for final assault

US FORCES tightened their cordon around Baghdad last night as hospitals were engulfed with casualties from heavy bombing.

While the bombs and artillery rained down on the Iraqi capital, relief organisations warned of a growing humanitarian crisis.

President Saddam Hussein's information minister insisted forces loyal to the Iraqi leader were pushing back the invaders. But the reality was that US troops appeared to be methodically preparing the ground for a final assault to kill or capture Saddam, his sons and all his top associates and were meeting little organised or sustained resistance.