AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 2EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630
IRAQ KARBALA ENCIRCLE (NEAR KERBALA)
US troops are advancing towards Baghdad on two sides, after bombarding cities bothto the west and east of the Iraqi capital.
US forces have encircled the city of Karbala, 110 kilometres south-west of Baghdad,during an overnight assault using warplanes, Apache attack helicopters and a furious artillerybarrage.
The troops are now driving from Karbala towards Baghdad.
US Marines have also bombarded Kut, a key city on the Tigris river 170 kilometres north-westof Baghdad.
Australia's defence chief General PETER COSGROVE says SADDAM's elite Republican Guarddefences have been eroded by air attacks.
General COSGROVE says US-led forces will soon have a tight grip around Baghdad, andthe Iraqi regime will have to either surrender or leave.
But the Australian Gulf Forces commander Brigadier MAURIE MCNARN says Australian forceswon't necessarily be involved in urban warfare in Baghdad.
Meanwhile US warplanes have continued to pound Baghdad, striking a compound where IraqiPresident SADDAM HUSSEIN's son QUSAY has his headquarters.
IRAQ POW (AS SAYLIYA CAMP)
US special forces have rescued a female US Army soldier in a daring overnight raidfrom an Iraqi hospital after she was captured in an ambush 10 days ago.
The rescued soldier has been identified as 19-year-old Private First Class JESSICA LYNCH.
Military officials say she was rescued from a hospital in the embattled southern cityof Nasiriyah.
She's said to be doing well, but CNN reports that LYNCH suffered multiple gunshot woundsat some point during her ordeal in Iraq that made it hard to move her.
IRAQ SADDAM US (WASHINGTON)
The White House says Iraqi President SADDAM HUSSEIN'S failure to personally delivera televised speech raises questions about whether he's dead or alive.
Iraqi state-run television earlier trumpeted SADDAM'S pending address, only to broadcastIraqi Information Minister MOHAMMED SAID AL-SAHHAF reading a statement that he attributedto SADDAM.
IRAQ HOWARD (HOBART)
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australians faced with horrifying images of war shouldremind themselves why the nation has become involved in the Iraq conflict.
Mr JOHN HOWARD's told a business breakfast in Hobart that it's easy to lose sight ofwhy Australia's participating in the US-led conflict when confronted with tragic and horrifyingimages.
The prime minister also today met family and friends of Tasmanian troops deployed inthe Persian Gulf at Hobart's Anglesea Barracks.
Mr HOWARD's told the gathering that although the conflict has attracted considerabledebate, there's no doubt about Australians' support and affection for the service menand women.
IRAQ DOWNER (SYDNEY)
Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says the BUSH administration is relaxed and positiveabout United Nations involvement in a post-conflict Iraq.
Mr DOWNER has met with US President GEORGE W BUSH, Vice-President DICK CHENEY and NationalSecurity Adviser CONDOLEEZZA RICE in Washington to discuss the role of the United Nationsin post-conflict Iraq.
However, Mr DOWNER's told Sky News the extent of UN involvement will depend on thesort of resolution approved by the Security Council.
MORAN (ADELAIDE)
About 450 people have gathered in Adelaide to pay tribute to Australian freelance cameramanPAUL MORAN who was killed in a suicide bomb blast in Iraq last month.
Mr MORAN'S wife IVANA has told mourners at Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church insuburban Glenelg that her husband will be remembered for the happiness he has broughtto other lives.
Mr MORAN has been privately buried at nearby North Brighton Cemetery.
The 39-year-old is the only Australian killed in the war in Iraq so far.
IRAQ PROTEST NSW (SYDNEY)
Two people were arrested and one police officer used capsicum spray as 500 largelywell-behaved student anti-war protesters gathered in Sydney's CBD today.
There were fears the protest, organised by the Books Not Bombs coalition, could turnviolent like last Wednesday's rally where chairs and other projectiles were hurled atpolice.
But police almost outnumbered protesters at today's demonstration.
IN OTHER NEWS...
PNEUMONIA DFAT (CANBERRA)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has strongly advised travellers to Singapore,China, Hong Kong and Vietnam to defer non-essential travel due to the deadly SARS virus.
The upgraded travel advice comes in the wake of Australia's first reported case ofsevere acute respiratory syndrome, which was notified to the World Health Organisationyesterday.
The flu-like virus has now killed at least 75 people and infected over 2,000 across the world.
COLE ABBOTT (CANBERRA)
Workplace Relations Minister TONY ABBOTT says federal cabinet has agreed to key recommendationsfrom the Cole Royal Commission, including a law enforcement agency for the building industry.
He's told the National Press Club that cabinet will seek a separate act governing workplacerelations in the building industry.
ATSIC RUDDOCK (CANBERRA)
The federal government says the two top officers of the nation's peak indigenous bodycould be suspended or dismissed if found guilty of misconduct.
Indigenous Affairs Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK has told the John Laws radio program hemay have to look at the issue of misconduct.
Deputy ATSIC chair RAY ROBINSON will face a Brisbane committal hearing on two forgerycharges in July, while ATSIC chairman GEOFF CLARK is appealing against convictions overa riot in a Warrnambool hotel last May.
DERAIL (SYDNEY)
The inquiry into the fatal Waterfall train derailment has heard that a build-up ofstone or ballast may have contributed to the accident.
The derailment of the train south of Sydney on January 31 this year left seven peopledead, including train driver HERMAN ZEIDES, and more than 40 others seriously injured.
CUBA HIJACK (KEY WEST)
In the second hijacking of a Cuban plane in as many weeks, a hijacker claiming to havetwo grenades surrendered an hour after forcing the aircraft to land in Florida with 32people aboard.
The hijacker was carrying a little boy when he came off the Cuban Airlines plane atthe Key West airport.
He was wearing a red windbreaker with the word America stitched in white on the back.
He was taken into FBI custody.
The surrender ends a more than 12-hour ordeal spent largely at the Havana airport,where the hijacker demanded that the plane be refuelled so it could reach Key West.
BRIEFLY...
Australia's leading euthanasia campaigner, Dr PHILLIP NITSCHKE, has been taken in forquestioning by customs officials at Melbourne airport as he attempted to board a flightto New Zealand.
The 21-member ministry of the third CARR government in New South Wales have been sworn in.
Australian rockers Cold Chisel will come together for only the second time since theydisbanded 20 years ago for a series of intimate Sydney concerts.
IN FINANCE...
RBA Rates (SYDNEY)
The Reserve Bank of Australia has left interest rates unchanged, in line with marketexpectations.
The RBA last changed interest rates in June 2002, when it lifted the cash rate to 4.75 per cent.
Howard Economy (HOBART)
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australia is largely resisting the backwash from economicuncertainty in the United States, because of the nation's strong economy.
Mr HOWARD talked up Australia's economic credentials at a business breakfast of theLiberal party faithful in Hobart.
Retail (CANBERRA)
Retail sales edged up another 0.3 per cent in February but the rise was lower thanmarket expectations as higher petrol prices crimped consumer spending.
Aust Stocks Close
The Australian share market finished just a fraction ahead today, hauled over the lineby market heavyweight News Corp.
The benchmark Standard and Poor's ASX 200 index closed 0.1 of a per cent higher at2882.3 while the all ordinaries index gained 3.2 points to 2847.4.
AND IN SPORT...
SUPER NSW (SYDNEY)
Waratahs skipper MATTHEW BURKE has been ruled out of Saturday's Super 12 clash withthe Crusaders at Aussie Stadium.
BURKE has failed to recover from a knee injury he sustained against the Bulls in roundfour and will be replaced by MORGAN TURINUI at outside centre.
AFL EAGLES APPEAL (PERTH)
West Coast captain BEN COUSINS' appeal of a one-match AFL suspension will be heardtomorrow night.
He'll be seeking the overturn of both the guilty verdict and punishment for strikingPort Adelaide defender DAMIEN HARDWICK on the weekend.
ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP.
AAP RTV rca/wz
KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP
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