Allied soldiers inched toward Baghdad yesterday, capturing or killing paramilitary and Republican Guard defenders while new waves of US bombs set off blazes in the Iraqi capital.

　　US troops killed about 100 paramilitary fighters in and around the Shiite holy city of Najaf and seized several dozen elite soldiers of the Republican Guard in Hindiyah, south of Baghdad.

　　The dawn assault on Hindiyah clinched control of the closest known point in the US-led advance on Baghdad,swheresa battle with the Republican Guard, the best-trained Iraqi troops, looms.

　　At least 15 Iraqi troops were reported killed in the town on the Euphrates. Troops had also cleared the towns of Afak, Hajil and Budayr in the region.

　　Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri yesterday questioned the legitimacy of the US-led attacks and called on coalition soldiers to surrender.

　　"America and Britain have no choice but to surrender and withdraw," said Sabri. "They will not leave our land safe and sound if they continue to be stubborn in their aggression. We will confront them with all we have .... No one will be safe."

　　"We will turn our desertssintosa big graveyard for the Americans and British," he said.

　　US military spokesman Brigade General Vincent Brooks also struck a defiant posture yesterday.

　　"There is no future for the regime or anyone that supports it," he said. "Will they fight to the death? Probably. We're seeing that in a number of places."

　　US warplanes, including a massive fleet of long-range bombers, pounded Baghdad and Tomahawk missiles ignited a fire that raged before dawn at the Iraqi Information Ministry. The blaze was put out after about 30 minutes.

　　The attacks were carried out simultaneously by multiple B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, the US Central Command said. The command said it was the first time in history that all three long-range strike aircraft targeted the same geographical area at the same time.

　　In northern Iraq, coalition aircraft pounded Iraqi positions in Kalak, a town just east of the strategic city of Mosul.

　　Iraqis could be seen running for cover along the treeless ridge west of the great Zab River. Kalak is at the border between Iraq proper and parts of the country held by minority Kurds.

　　On the 12th day of the war to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, questions have arisen about the pace and impact of the US-led campaign. Despite claims of success, coalition forces appear to be bogged down in the southswheresan anticipated uprising by the Shiites to welcome US forces has not occurred.

　　Closer to Baghdad, Saddam's defense appears more resilient than US war planners had anticipated.

　　In Nasiriyah,swheresfighting has been fierce for a week, US Marines secured buildings held by an Iraqi infantry division that contained large caches of weapons and chemical decontamination equipment.

　　A Marine UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed on Sunday night at a forward supply and refueling point in southern Iraq, killing three people aboard.

　　So far about 42 American and 25 British soldiers have been killed. Seven Americans are being held prisoner and 17 others are reported missing, according to Iraqi officials. There are no estimates of Iraqi combatants killed, but officials in Baghdad say about 425 civilians have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded.

　　US officials said coalition ground forces were closing in on Baghdad from the south, west and north - with the southern frontline about 80 kilometers from the capital. Air strikes have reduced some units of the Republican Guard to less than half their prewar capacity.