US troops began amassing in northern Iraq in an indication that one more front would be opened in the war against Iraq even as efforts to secure the port town of Umm Qasr in southeastern Iraq made slow progress.

American planes continue to bomb Baghdad even as Iraqi troops dug in waiting for US-led troops to reach the capital.

BBC reports that the target has been the positions occupied by the Republican Guards, Iraq's best-trained troops.

Reports from Basra indicated that the second largest city in Iraq is witnessing fighting between US-led troops and Iraqis.

In other parts of the country, the troops continue to encounter fierce resistance from Iraqi soldiers and militiamen.

In Washington, the Bush administration is expected to seek $75billion from Congress for the Iraq war on the assumption that the war will be over in 30 days.

It includes about $4billion for homeland security and $8billion for foreign aid and humanitarian aid. The proposal would be sent to Congress later this week.

However, it does not include the cost of bringing back the troops and equipment nor the cost of reconstruction, officials said.

US President George W Bush met Congressional leaders on Monday to tell them how much the war in Iraq will cost. He will formally unveil the spending request on Tuesday at the Pentagon.

While giving the breakdown for the supplement budget as outlined by the White House, Democratic Senator Robert Byrd said the administration wants the bill passed by April 11. 

Some lawmakers want the supplementary expenses to cover other items, such as help for the ailing airline industry.

Earlier, a Pentagon official said its request for emergency supplemental funding would provide $30.3billion for 'coercive diplomacy', $13billion for the 'major conflict phase', $12billion for the 'transitional and stability phase', and $7.2billion for the 'reconstruction phase'.

These costs only cover the US fiscal year 2003, which ends in October 2003.

The budget request also includes bilateral aid for several Gulf nations and Israel.

The war appropriation is also likely to include increased aid for US allies who are supporting the war effort, including $1billion in grants and $9billion in loans to Israel to prop up its sagging economy, $1billion for Egypt, and $1billion for Jordan, officials said.

It may also include some rebuilding costs in Iraq, but it is unlikely to spell out the future costs of reconstruction and occupation as it is not yet clear how much damage will need to be repaired in Iraq.