In Baghdad, reporters witnessed the first appearance since the start of hostilities of an Iraqi leader many had assumed was a victim of Wednesday's leadership compound bombing, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan. Ramadan, second in command to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said Iraq had captured a number of American air crews and destroyed some U.S. tanks, with the evidence, he said, soon to be shown on television. Arab television monitored by United Press International in London showed armed Iraqis searching the Tigris River along the banks and in boats. The reports said parachutes had been seen in the area. There was no confirmation from coalition officers that a plane was missing, although air-raid warnings were sounding in Baghdad and plumes of smoke showed that daylight raids were being launched. As of a Sunday afternoon briefing in Kuwait, coalition for flown more than 6,000 sorties, with planes coming from bases in 30 countries.
The Pentagon says all aircraft are accounted for... |