The hospital at Hilla, 50 miles south of Baghdad, is filling up with casualties. There’s fighting near here, as the Americans approach the capital.
The Iraqis say dozens of civilians were killed and wounded yesterday as they tried to flee. Others, they say, were caught in American air-raids. Local residents have been giving blood.
For one doctor, it’s all too much. He said: "I would like my friends in England and Edinburgh, my friends at the Royal College and others to see this crime. To see what is being done by their government and the American government.
"I want them to protest, I want them to raise their voices, against all these crimes, please my colleagues. Say something."
The Iraqis gathered munitions in Hilla to show reporters. These are cluster bombs. The Americans say they use them against soldiers, but the Iraqi government insists they’ve been used against civilians and that explains some of the worst injuries.
In Baghdad, the raids are primarily on government, communication and military facilities. Some buildings are being hit several times a day even though there’s no-one inside.
But the Iraqi government still says it’s winning. Further north, west of Mosul they claim to have foiled a British airborne landing.
Al Jazeera television says the pictures show local people showing off captured equipment, and celebrating their success.
Here in Baghdad, they’re still recording songs of praise to Saddam Hussein. They play the tape through the PA system, everyone reads the words from the board and waves their weapons on cue.
The performance will be broadcast on Iraqi television, which is still on air despite repeated bombardment.
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