THE DAY OF FREEDOM IS DAWNING

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday March 21, 2003 12:43 by Uncle Samuel

The oil fields are nearly secured

Invasion force pushes into Iraq US and British troops have been trying to secure Iraq's southern oil fields US and British troops advanced deep into Iraq early on Friday. US Marines have reached Iraq's only deep-water port at Umm Qasr in the south-east, having overcome some early resistance as they crossed the border from Kuwait. British troops also say they have taken control of key oil installations on the al-Faw peninsula. Fierce fighting has been reported around the big oil fields in northern Iraq, which US special forces are trying to secure, according to Western intelligence.