Iraq vowed on Tuesday to defeat US forces advancing in the heart of Baghdad with tanks backed by aircraft and artillery.
"We are going to tackle them and going to destroy them," Information Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf told reporters.
"They are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks," he said of the US forces, asked if Iraq itself was considering surrender on the 20th day of the war aimed at toppling President Saddam Hussein.

US tanks advanced in the center of the city from an overnight base in a compound of a presidential palace captured by US forces on Monday.

Aircraft and artillery pounded government buildings in the center of the city.

"Baghdad is bracing to pummel the invaders," he said.

Sahaf accused US forces of attacking civilian targets in central Baghdad, including the offices of Al-Jazeera television. Jazeera said a cameraman was killed in a US air raid.

"They are in an hysterical state and think that if they kill civilians they are going to win, they're not going to win," he said.

Meanwhile, a coalition A-10 "warthog" warplane went down near Baghdad early Tuesday, US Central Command in Camp As Sayliyah said.

The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft and was recovered by coalition ground forces near the airport.

The pilot was reported to be in good condition. No further information was immediately available.

PHOTO CAPTION:
A-10 "warthog" warplane