U.S. prepares for battle of Baghdad

[bfez1]

March 25 — A swirling sandstorm grounded combat helicopters and slowed U.S. forces as they advanced to within 50 miles of Baghdad on Tuesday, but officials insisted the campaign was on schedule as artillery and waves of air strikes hammered Republican Guard targets around the capital. Elsewhere, American troops resumed their advance northward across the Euphrates River after overcoming stubborn resistance in the southern city of Nasiriyah. The clashes in southern Iraq left at least 500 Iraqi fighters dead, according to one U.S. commander.