* U.S. warplanes pound central Baghdad, three bombs hit a
presidential compound; Reuters witness says area hit is site of
Iraqi ministries and military buildings
* U.S. forces engaged in major fighting with IraqiRepublican Guard near key southern town of Kerbala on route to
Baghdad; U.S. says female prisoner of war rescued
* Rumsfeld says only "unconditional surrender" by Iraq will
end war; Saddam, in message read on state television, tells
Iraqis to fight invaders "everywhere", says Jihad is a duty

QUOTES
Saddam in message read on Iraqi state TV: "Hit them. Fight
them. They are evil aggressors damned by God. You are victorious
and they are defeated."
Rumsfeld: "There will be no outcome to this war that leaves
Saddam Hussein and his regime in power. Let there be no doubt,
his time will end, and soon. The only thing that the coalition
will discuss with this regime is their unconditional surrender."

EVENTS (TIMES IN GMT)
Wednesday -
* Colin Powell visits Ankara, Belgrade
* Blair answers questions in parliament (1100)
* Reuters poll of defence and financial analysts on length
of war and impact on various asset prices

Thursday -
* Powell to meet NATO, EU officials in Brussels

Friday -
* Blix takes part in Stockholm seminar on world after war in
Iraq

CASUALTIES
* U.S. - 51 killed, 13 missing
* Britain - 27 killed
* Iraqi military - no confirmed figures
* Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates) - 653 killed, 4,850
injured

MILITARY ACTION
BAGHDAD: Fresh airstrikes pummel Baghdad's centre and
southern and western outskirts; overnight raids hit presidential
compound
SOUTHERN IRAQ: Iraqi missile launched from south of Baghdad
towards Najaf brought down by Patriot battery; U.S. says Iraqi
missile fired at Kuwait, also shot down
British Royal Marines continue operations south of Basra
NORTHERN IRAQ: U.S. planes attacked targets close to Kirkuk,
Iraq said it had thwarted a British troop landing near Mosul