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Pentagon: No Iraqi column seen heading to Najaf


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KARBALA, Iraq (CNN) -- Conflicting reports emerged from central Iraq about whether large numbers of Iraqi Republican Guard troops were moving out of Baghdad toward the lead elements of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division.

Top U.S. military officials in Washington and at Central Command headquarters in Qatar said field reports of a major Iraqi troop movement near Baghdad appeared to be based on inaccurate intelligence and that officials could find no evidence of such a large-scale operation.

CNN Correspondent Walter Rodgers, embedded with the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, the 3rd Division's reconnaissance unit, said officers told him a column of up to 1,000 Iraqi vehicles was probably heading south to Najaf to try to retake a key bridge over the Euphrates River, taken by U.S. forces in an intense battle early Tuesday.

However, Pentagon officials in Washington said they were aware only of "defensive repositioning" of Republican Guard units near Baghdad.

The Iraqi troops were reported to be traveling at 18 mph to 36 mph, said Rodgers. Since bad weather was hindering air cover, Army sources had said they were expecting to come under attack Wednesday night.

Troops from the 3-7th Cavalry fought a fierce battle with Iraqi troops Tuesday in the Euphrates Valley east of Najaf, a Shiite Muslim shrine city about 95 miles south of Baghdad. Pentagon officials said about 300 Iraqi soldiers were killed in the engagement.

The sandstorm has prevented Apache helicopters from flying for two days, Rodgers reported. At least one B-1 bomber has been able to fly, dropping bombs the previous night, he said.

CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report from Washington.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This report was written in accordance with Pentagon ground rules allowing so-called embedded reporting, in which journalists join deployed troops. Among the rules accepted by all participating news organizations is an agreement not to disclose sensitive operational details.


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