"We will continue concentrating on those mercenaries until we slaughter them," Sahhaf vowed

BAGHDAD, April 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – American military officials denied reports by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al-Sahhaf Saturday, April 5, that Iraqi Republican Guards were in full control of Saddam International Airport.

Captain Andrew Valles, spokesman for the 1st Brigade of the U.S. army's 3rd Infantry Division, speaking to an AFP correspondent inside the airport compound, said "the only Republican Guard soldiers I've seen are either dead or captured."

Speaking at press briefing earlier in the day, Sahhaf said Iraqi forces "have defeated them (American troops). We have crushed them. We have pushed them outside the whole area of the airport."

"The whole trend has been changed. The operation is moving in our interests and I think we are going to finalize soon," he noted.

"They are now besieged and encircled in the area of Abu Gharib outside the airport remote gates, " added al-Sahhaf.

American forces carry soldier wounded in airport battle

He claimed inflicting "huge causalities" at the American troops and that the mercenaries lost several tanks and armored vehicles.

Sahhaf said "martyr" attacks had been launched on the American forces, as part of the "unconventional" methods he predicted on Friday, April 4.

"We will continue concentrating on those mercenaries until we slaughter them," he vowed.

"Yesterday we nailed them down and since dawn we are attacking them and they are surrounded."

He said American forces had been unable "to establish connection with other columns" and continued "firing from time to time with light artillery".

The Iraqi information minister pledged to escort reporters to the airport within few hours.

On the situation on other fronts, Sahhaf said Iraqi forces attacked American troops stationed at el-Qadisia Dam near Hadithah, destroying four armored personnel carriers.

He asserted that Iraqi forces, tribal fighters as well as Baath Party fighters countered an attack by the British forces on Basra and destroyed seven tanks.

The Iraqi minister announced shutting down another enemy aircraft fighter.

3 U.S. Soldiers Killed

Three U.S. soldiers were killed in a vehicle accident at Baghdad's main airport, a U.S. commander said.

Colonel Will Grimsley, commander of the First Brigade of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said the three were killed late Friday, April 4, in "an armored vehicle incident" but gave no details.

The names of the soldiers were withheld pending notification of relatives.

VIDEO CLIPS FROM SADDAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: 

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