US troops seize key northern airfield

American troops have parachuted into northern Iraq and seized a key airfield in Kurdish-controlled territory.

The move opens a new front in the war against Saddam Hussein's regime.

About 1,000 paratroopers, including elite US Army Rangers, jumped from the low-flying planes under cover of darkness.

Their tanks, other vehicles and supplies will be airlifted in behind them.

War planes from the USS Theodore Roosevelt provided cover by pounding Iraqi ground troops and bunkers across the north of the country.

The Pentagon had hoped to move a large ground force into the area from Turkey.

But the Turkish parliament refused to allow that, and the parachute drop signalled the start of plan B.

Amid some criticism at home, Washington yesterday said it was sending more than 30,000 extra troops to the war zone, including the high tech 4th Infantry Division from Texas.

They are expected to help secure supply lines and reinforce coalition forces approaching the Iraqi capital of five million people.

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