Baghdad: Seventy-seven civilians were killed and 366 others injured by US air strikes on the Southern Iraqi city of Basra, Information Minister Mohammad Said al- Sahaaf said on March 23.

The dead and the injured were victims of cluster bombs, he told a press conference in Baghdad.

US and British war planes began their attacks on Basra around 11.30 am (2.00 pm IST) on March 22, initially bombing the outskirts, but then targeting objectives in the city, according to Qatar-based satellite television channel 'al-Jazeera'.

General Tommy Franks, head of the US command, said on March 22 he had no plans to move on Basra, Iraq's second city and main port, but would prefer to work with civilians there "who are welcoming the forces as they come in".

Agencies