* Pentagon says up to 300 Iraqis may have been killed in
battle near Najaf
* British army says hearing reports of uprising in Basra and
vows to support it; but Iraqi minister denies revolt
* Warplanes attack Republican Guards defending Baghdad as
sandstorms halt some U.S. forces moving on capital; Rumsfeld
says Iraq may use chemical weapons on advancing Americans
* U.S. Marines find weapons, ammunition and over 3,000
chemical suits at Nassiriya hospital
* Two British soldiers killed by "friendly-fire" near Basra
on Monday night; two others seriously injured

EVENTS
Wednesday - Blair meets Bush in Washington
Thursday - Blair meets Kofi Annan

QUOTES
Richard Myers, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff: "In the
big scope of things, we're on track, we're on plan. We think we
have just the right forces for what we need to do now. We remind
people that forces are still flowing to the region."
Saddam statement to Iraqi tribesmen: "The enemy has violated
your lands, and now they are violating your tribes and
families... Don't wait for our orders, just fight them."

MILITARY ACTION
BAGHDAD: U.S. forces attack Iraq's elite Republican Guards
defending approaches to Baghdad. U.S. armoured columns thrust to
the Kerbala area, 95 km (60 miles) south of the capital.
Outskirts of Baghdad pounded by heavy air strikes in an
apparent effort by U.S.-led forces to target the capital's outer
defences, a Reuters correspondent says.
CENTRAL IRAQ: U.S. Marines seize 3,000 chemical suits,
weapons from Nassiriya hospital; 170 unarmed Iraqi troops held.
SOUTHERN IRAQ: Pentagon says up to 300 Iraqis killed in
battle near Najaf
British forces say the southern Iraqi port town of Umm Qasr
is "safe and open".
British TV reporter says British troops shelling Iraqi
forces to try to help reported local uprising in Basra.
U.S. Marines resume advance towards Baghdad after fighting
through city of Nassiriya. These troops could eventually form
the eastward arm of a pincer movement on the capital, 375 km
(235 miles) to the north.
NORTHERN IRAQ: Aircraft carry out raids on targets in or
around Mosul, the heaviest on the city since raids began.

CASUALTIES / PRISONERS
U.S. military - 18 dead
UK military - 20 dead, two missing
Iraqi military - no reliable figures, up to 300 killed near
Najaf
Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates) - 158
Prisoners - Rumsfeld: U.S.-UK hold more than 3,500 prisoners