BBC und andere berichten: The United States says it has destroyed the Baghdad division of Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard. Iraqi officials dispute the claim, which would mark a key victory for coalition forces in their advance to the Iraqi capital. Brigadier-General Vincent Brooks said that US troops had routed the opposition after taking the town of Kut and securing a key bridge across the River Tigris, 150 kilometres (90 miles) south-east of Baghdad.