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Fri 04 Apr 2003Battle for Baghdad begins with US attack on airport

The battle for Baghdad appeared to be starting last night with a US attack under darkness on Saddam Hussein International Airport, 25 km west of the city. Lara Marlowe in Baghdad, Deaglán de Bréadún in Doha and Conor O'Clery in New York report

It was the culmination of a day when coalition forces tightened their hold on the outer fringes of the Iraqi capital.