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AL AZIZIYAH, Iraq – The Iraqis fired rocket-propelled grenades from behind a taxi parked along a distant canal. One grenade zipped across the nose of an armored amphibious vehicle and exploded in the dirt. That angered Maj. Andrew Bianca, executive officer of the Marines' 2nd Tank Battalion. Sheathed in aluminum plate, the tracked amphibious vehicles known as amtracks can withstand rifle fire, but not rocket grenades. And Maj. Bianca's support team was in amtracks. He ordered his tank crew to fire a round at the Iraqis. The 120 mm cannon barrel dropped slightly, then erupted with smoke and flame. The...

Two US Marines reported dead in battle for bridges OUTSIDE BAGHDAD, April 7 (Reuters) - Two U.S. Marines were killed and many were injured on Monday in fighting to secure two bridges over a river on the edge of Baghdad, key objectives for U.S. forces advancing on the city, the U.S. military said. Marines said both bridges were badly damaged in the fighting, rendering them impassable for tanks and heavy armour. The two Marines were killed when an artillery shell landed on the turret of their amphibious assault vehicle, blasting through the tracked vehicle's armour, Master Sergeant Marvin Crawford told...

The noose tightens...