Coalition Forces Take Baghdad - 9 April, 2003

Anti-Iraq coalition forces have taken complete control of Baghdad, reported television station Al-Jazir on Wednesday.

U.S. marines with the support of tank and aviation subunits took all the remainder of primary government buildings in Baghdad, including the Iraqi Ministry of Information and the Oil Industry Ministry of Iraq. Units of Saddam Hussein's guard did not show any resistance. The city is completely surrounded by coalition troops, according to Al-Jazir reporters.

However, Syrian Radio correspondent Bashar Maalla working in the center of the Iraqi capital, said that 'this information is only half true.' According to Maalla, embittered fighting continues in the city and many Bagdad residents are fastening grenades to themselves and exploding next to army subunits.

According to Euronews, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday that 'the Iraq war was in fact concluded.'