US troops control 75% of Baghdad airport

American troops moved to capture Baghdad’s Saddam International Airport today as the Iraqi capital came under renewed bombing.

Coalition forces occupied around 75% of the sprawling site and initial reports said they met little opposition from Iraqi forces.

Once the airport is secured, troops, munitions and humanitarian aid can be brought to Baghdad much more quickly and easily than by road.

Baghdad was also plunged into darkness last night – the only lights were the flash of explosives and the flames from burning buildings.

Several of Saddam’s presidential palaces were reported to have been targeted in Allied bombing raids.

The power cut across the city began at about 8pm local time yesterday as coalition forces launched an attack on the airport.