fighting now on the outskirts of baghdad from ABC...

fighting now on the outskirts of baghdad from ABC Online;

American forces have launched heavy attacks on Iraqi soldiers protecting the capital Baghdad as the two sides prepare to do battle for the city.

The BBC's Paul Wood, who is one of the few correspondents left in Baghdad, says there has been heavy bombing on the southern edge of the city, where Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards are entrenched.

The journalist's reports are being monitored by the Iraqi authorities.

"From somewhere over the horizon to the south of Baghdad came a series of long, low rumbling sounds, each lasting about 20 seconds and accompanied by flashes that lit up the whole sky," he said.

"This was very different from the sound made by the impact of a single bomb or cruise missile.

"We concluded it was B-52s, probably dropping huge payloads of bombs on the Iraqi soldiers, dug in on the outskirts of the capital, waiting to engage the advancing American and British forces."

The troops of the US-led coalition have continued to face fierce resistance from Iraqi troops.

While there have been initial exchanges with Republican Guard troops to the south of Baghdad, forces trying to secure a route through the Euphrates River town of Nasiriyah continue to face stiff resistance.

The BBC's Andrew North reports US Marine artillery batteries have been opening up on the Iraqi positions, sometimes every few minutes.

Helicopter gunships have been circling above the town all day.

The focus of the fighting has been in the area near two key bridges in the town, senior officers with this marine unit say they control both bridges.

US commanders admit the fighting has been much tougher then they expected, but they are denying it will slow down their advance.

However, there is no sign yet of the fighting around Nasiriyah dying down.


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