Compiled by Joe Humphreys.
Day 18: At a glance
1. Casualties mount: Artillery and mortar fire is heard in central Baghdad as constant explosions erupt on the outskirts of the city. The International Committee of the Red Cross says "during fierce bombardment, hospitals received up to 100 \ casualties per hour." UN relief agencies warn of impending health crisis.
2 Airport landing: Baghdad International sees its first landing of a US aircraft, a C-130 transporter. Some 7,000 US troops gather there.
3. Russians attacked: A convoy of Russian diplomatic cars leaving Baghdad is caught in crossfire. Several people are injured.
4. Street fighting: US troops push into the centre of Karbala and comb the streets looking for paramilitaries.
5. Bodyguard killed: British forces launch fresh thrust into Basra. The US says it has found the body of a bodyguard of Iraqi commander Ali Hassan al-Majeed, nicknamed "Chemical Ali", in Basra.
6. "Friendly fire" incident: A US plane bombs a convoy of US special forces and Kurdish fighters, killing up to 18 Kurds, including a BBC translator and the brother of Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani.
Voices from Baghdad:
"Can you help get my arms back? Do you think the doctors can get me another pair of hands?" - Ismaeel Abbas (12) who lost both arms in an Allied bombing raid on Baghdad. His brother, father and mother, who was five months pregnant, were killed in the attack.
"We have no way out. We are facing a reality now. We are confronting the mightiest army in the world. What can we do? Where can we go?" - Nour Khaled (48), a Baghdad mother of two.
"You're very welcome, Mr President," is how the Belfast Telegraph greeted the announcement of Mr Bush's visit to the North. While "there are mixed feelings about the conflict here", it said the visit "could prove to be a turning point, both in Iraq and our own Troubles." The Irish News was more cautious, reporting that politicians were "divided" on the visit. Its editorial said the world would watch to see if Mr Bush "puts the interests of Iraq before those of the US" in deciding if the UN should have a role in the reconstruction of Iraq.
The Sunday Tribune said the summit gave the Taoiseach a chance to make a case for UN involvement. This "will be a very delicate task" but nonetheless "we should state our position boldly". The Sunday Business Post said "firm commitments about [the UN's] central role in Iraq's reconstruction must be given without delay. . . As each day goes by, the folly of the Bush-Blair alliance is all the more obvious." In contrast, the Sunday Independent praised Mr Blair, saying the war summit's locationing in the North was "one measure of \ standing". The Sunday Times claimed the visit would "help to bury the long-running conflict in Ireland", and this "should be an impetus towards a renewed effort to get an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal."
When is a joke not a joke?
When it's told on the wrong side of the Atlantic. So it seems from the recent outpourings of comedy from Europe and America which take different slants on the war. In the US, late-night comedy shows are reluctant to joke about their President, instead targeting Saddam and his "sympathisers", as Washington media analyst Robert Lichter confirms. "There's a more nationalistic tone than even in the first Gulf War," he says. "Instead of just making fun of the bad guys, there's now a real 'rah-rah' element."
In Europe, meanwhile, Bush and his "lap-dog" Blair are the target of countless jokes, as is the Allied campaign itself. In fact, the only thing European and American comedians seem to agree on is that making jokes about war shouldn't be taboo, as German "humour researcher" - yes, there is such a thing - Reiner Först remarks: "[Some people] say you should never lose your sense of humour because it can help you overcome pain."
US war humour:
"There's some confusion now whether Saddam Hussein is actually alive or dead. . .They had videotape on Iraqi television earlier today, and it's so confusing. It's Saddam Hussein. . . and he's speaking at his own funeral." - David Letterman on CBS's The Late Show
"Today, Saddam Hussein was supposed to appear on television and rally the Iraqi people. . .but he was replaced at the last minute by Peter Arnett" - Jay Leno on NBC's The Tonight Show
"There was another war-related casualty today. The French were injured when they tried to jump on our bandwagon" - Leno again
European war humour:
"Did you know the Americans were planning to divide Iraq into three zones after the war? Leaded, unleaded and diesel" - Swiss comedy website www.witziges.ch
"The allies say they have captured Umm Qasr. It's the fourth Umm Qasr to be captured since the start of the war." - Russian website
"It is 50 years after George W. Bush. The whole world is occupied by the Americans. The whole world? No! One indomitable little continent is still holding out against the hordes" - text accompanying the picture above on the French website www.humour.com, parodying the famous opening of The Adventures of Asterix.