Around 2,500 Iraqi soldiers are reported to have surrendered to US Marines who clashed with Republican Guards as they advanced on Baghdad from the town of Al-Kut, a US spokesman said.
"There are reports of 2,500 Iraqi troops who surrendered between Al-Kut and Baghdad," Navy Captain Frank Thorp said here at US Central Command's forward planning base.
"This is the First Marine Expeditionary Force taking on the Baghdad Divsion of Republican Guards".
He said units from the US Army's Fifth Corps as well as the First Marine Expeditionary Force were "continuing to move toward the vicinity of Baghdad," in stronger numbers than yesterday.
AFP
