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Resistance in Nassiriya Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030323/ts_nm/iraq_nassiriya_dc_6 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030323/ts_nm/iraq_nassiriya_dc_6 Yahoo! News Sun, Mar 23, 2003 Top Stories - Reuters Fighting Blocks U.S. Advance Near Nassiriya 56 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo! SOUTHERN IRAQ (Reuters) - Fighting on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya has blocked an advance by U.S. forces there, a Reuters reporter said on Sunday, quoting military sources. Correspondent Sean Maguire, traveling with the U.S. Marines south of the city, said members of a U.S. Marine task force had reported encountering resistance on the approaches, and that columns of black smoke were visible on the horizon. "We're blocked. We can't go ahead because of security concerns because of this resistance," Maguire said from his position about 19 miles southeast of the city. Maguire said there was heavy U.S. helicopter traffic over the area, and that hundreds of military trucks and armored personnel carriers had stopped their northward advance. Iraqi Information Minister Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf told a news conference in Baghdad that foreign invaders headed to Nassiriya had been "taught a lesson they will never forget." "We have placed them in a quagmire from which they can never emerge except dead," he said. Earlier, Marines had reported seizing control of bridgeheads on the north bank of the Euphrates river, positioning them to strike further in the direction of Baghdad. U.S. officers also said that the 11th Division of the Iraqi army had "capitulated." That report could not be confirmed, and no details on the alleged surrender were available. Iraqi officials on Saturday denied U.S. statements that the commander of the 51st Division had surrendered and a U.S. commander said his forces had fought and defeated elements of the 51st around the southern city of Basra. Speeding columns of the U.S. Third Infantry have covered nearly two thirds of the 300 miles from the Kuwaiti border in two days before running into Iraqi resistance near Najaf on the southwest bank of the Euphrates. A strike north across the river toward the Tigris river and Baghdad could create a pincer movement on the capital. U.S. officers believe units of President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s elite Republican Guards face them at Najaf -- the Medina Division -- and at other cities south of Baghdad, like Kut on the Tigris, where the Baghdad Division is thought to be based.

300 iraqi troops killed najaf { March 25 2003 } 4000 pows held Americans dig wait { March 30 2003 } Basra defenders burrow { March 24 2003 } British left behind Fed marines singing hotel california { March 31 2003 } Fierce fight edge forward { March 31 2003 } Heat wave challenge { April 1 2003 } Iraq mobile launchers { March 23 2003 } Iraqi resistance pause troops { March 29 2003 } Marine hanged public { April 1 2003 } Marines are hungry Resistance in Nassiriya Saddam guerillas thwart river crossing { March 23 2003 } Sandstorm bahdad 3 26 03 [jpg] Soldiers need smokes Taking pows 3 26 03 [jpg] Third infantry fiercest fighting { March 26 2003 } Troops meet setbacks { March 24 2003 } Troops seize oil fields Files Listed: 20

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