US ARMY SOLDIER WATCHES SUNRISE IN THE IRAQI DESERT NEAR KARBALA, 2003-04-02 (photo)

A US Army combat engineer with the 3rd Infantry division watches the sun rising over the desert near Karbala central Iraq, early April 2, 2003 as a B52 leaves a vapour trail in the sky after bombing the cities of Kerbala and Baghdad. U.S. forces have encircled the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala with little opposition, securing all major exit routes, and are now advancing further north, a Reuters correspondent said. Reporter Luke Baker, who is travelling with the U.S. 3rd Infantry, said commanders had expected a day-long battle to seize the city perimeter, but in the end the operation was completed within three hours. PP03040005 REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach KP/JDP