U.S. army troops moving toward Baghdad Monday fought Iraqis through the city of Hindiyah and over a bridge crossing the Euphrates River.

The U.S. soldiers captured several dozen Iraqi soldiers who identified themselves as members of Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard.

MILITARY MOVEMENTS COALITION FORCES MILITARY TERMS IRAQI FORCES
MILITARY MOVEMENTS COALITION FORCES MILITARY TERMS IRAQI FORCES

The prisoners wore the guard's triangular insignia and told the soldiers they were part of the guard's Nebuchadnezzar Brigade based in Tikrit, Saddam's home city.

The 4th Battalion of the 64th armoured regiment moved into Hindiyah near dawn, marking the furthest point forward in the American advance on Baghdad.

Iraqis fought back with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. At least 20 Iraqi soldiers were killed in Hindiyah, about 80 kilometres south of Baghdad.

Baghdad
Baghdad

Further south, the U.S. army surrounded the Shiite holy city of Najaf, preparing for a possible urban battle with Saddam's forces.

U.S. Central Command said the 82nd Airborne Division had killed 100 "terror squad members" and captured 50 prisoners in fighting Sunday in Najaf.

The 101st Airborne Division cordoned off the city, but the soldiers were wary of entering it and damaging some of Islam's most sacred shrines.

The city is the site of the shrine where Ali, the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed, is buried. Its gold dome and paired minarets can be seen for kilometres.

Members of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division were also fighting members of the Republican Guard near Najaf on Monday.

More bombing in Baghdad

New explosions shook Baghdad early Monday morning as allied bombing continued to target key leadership and control centres in the capital.

A missile strike ignited a fire in the Iraqi Information Centre, which is located across the street from the 28 April Shopping Centre, so named in commemoration of Saddam's birthdate. The blaze was put out in 30 minutes.

Recorded calls of "God is great" from mosque minarets alerted the people of Baghdad to another night of bombings late Sunday.

In the past few nights, the mosque loudspeakers have been used as air-raid sirens, with the all-clear signaled by another minaret announcement: "God is great, they are gone."