HighLights of the AAP's Iraq file at 14:45, April 3

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HighLights of the AAP's Iraq file at 14:45, April 3

WASHINGTON - A US Army Blackhawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq, leaving seven ofthe troops on board presumed dead, a Defence Department official said (Iraq Blackhawk)

WASHINGTON - A US F/A-18 Hornet warplane has been shot down over southern Iraq by asurface-to-air missile, Fox News Channel reported today. (Iraq Hornet )

(Iraq Nightlead to come.)

KARBALA - US troops moved to within 50km of Baghdad today as they surged north in amajor offensive Pentagon officials said had left Iraq's Republican Guard divisions intatters. (Iraq 3rd Daylead )

SOUTH OF BAGHDAD - Units of Iraq's Republican Guard were moving south from Baghdadon Thursday to try to block a US advance and to reinforce positions around the capital'sairport, US military sources said on Thursday. (Iraq Guards)

BAGHDAD - A huge explosion rocked central Baghdad early today and blasts shook thesouth of the city after US-led forces moved to within 50km of the Iraqi capital. (IraqBaghdad Bombing)

LONDON - International human rights watchdog Amnesty International warned today theuse of cluster bombs will lead to indiscriminate killing of civilians, the day after thebombs were suspected of killing 33 civilians in central Iraq. (Iraq Cluster Amnesty)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE - US Army Private Jessica Lynch arrived at a US air base in south-westernGermany on a C-17 transport plane late today for treatment at a US military medical centrefor combat wounds suffered during her capture by Iraqi forces. (Iraq POW Germany)

HILLAH - Bassem Hawky lost his right arm when, he says, a US tank fired on a bus heand his family were riding in. (Iraq Hillah Civilians)

WASHINGTON - Former Iraqi athletes trying to prove Saddam Hussein's son Uday had sportsstars tortured and killed for losing fear the evidence has gone up in smoke. (Iraq OlyAthletes)

BEVERLY HILLS - A prolonged war with Iraq could bring terrorism to the US and Britain,as well as greater instability to the Middle East, according to media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

(Iraq Murdoch)

DOHA - Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television is suspending the work of its journalistsin Iraq after authorities banned one correspondent from working and asked another to leave,the station announced early today. (Iraq Jazeera Lead)

GENEVA - The European Broadcasting Union, the world's largest professional associationof national broadcasters, today protested at restrictions imposed by US forces on somemedia in southern Iraq. (Iraq Media Union)

WASHINGTON - The US is working to speed the dredging of the Iraqi port at Umm Qasrso it can be opened for humanitarian relief deliveries within days not weeks, a seniorUS official said today. (Iraq Qasr)

CANBERRA - A negotiated settlement to the Iraq war would be preferable to a tough battlefor Baghdad, Defence said today. (Iraq Aust Settlement)

CANBERRA - Australian divers would spend another week clearing mines and munitionsfrom waterways around the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, Defence spokesman Mike Hannan said today.

(Iraq Aust ADF)

(Iraq Aust N/L to come)

CANBERRA - A new post-war Iraqi government would emerge quickly following the end ofthe war, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today predicted. (Iraq Leaders Downer)

CANBERRA - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today played down fears Iraq could unleasha wave of suicide bombers if the war continued to go against Baghdad. (Iraq Suicide Downer)

CANBERRA - A more independent and dissenting relationship with the United States wouldgive Australia a better chance of influencing the superpower's views, a senior defenceanalyst said today. (Iraq Aust Dibb)

CANBERRA - Opposition Leader Simon Crean today condemned the desecration of Commonwealthwar graves in northern France, describing it as disgusting. (Iraq Graves Crean )

SYDNEY - Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke today called on the Howard government to withdrawAustralian troops from Iraq. (Iraq Hawke. N/L to come.)

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KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS IRAQ