Saddam's stronghold 'ready to fall'
The final stronghold of Saddam Hussein's regime appears to be on the verge of falling to allied forces.
US Marines moved in to Tikrit, Saddam's tribal home, and also rescued seven American prisoners of war abandoned by their Iraqi captors.
The marines were initially unopposed but later there were reports of US forces, including F-18 jets and Cobra helicopters, taking on Iraqi tanks south of the city.
The Commander of US forces in the Gulf General Tommy Franks said: "I wouldn't say it's over but I will say we have American forces in Tikrit right now.
"When last I checked this force was moving on Tikrit and there was not any resistance but I think we would be premature to say well, gosh, it's all done, it's all finished."
The allied assault on Tikrit was made by "Taskforce Tripoli" which consisted of several thousand marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force moving north from Baghdad.
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