BAGHDAD, March 20 (AFP) - The third air strike in an hour hit Baghdad early

　　Thursday, at 0335 GMT (6:36 a.m.), an AFP correspondent heard.

　　The new attack by warplanes or cruise missiles again targetted the

　　southeast of the Iraqi capital, sending huge clouds of smoke billowing into the

　　dawn sky as the United States launched its long-threatened war on Iraq.

　　ezz/sw/mb

　　Iraq-war-fire

　　AFP 200345 GMT MAR 03

　　2003-03-20 11:45:15

　　2003-03-20 11:45:21

　　582

　　NNNN