At least 22 people have been killed in a series of explosions and a gunbattle in central Baghdad.

MORE than 600 ancient artefacts smuggled out of Iraq, recovered and lost again have been found among kitchen supplies stored at the prime minister’s office.

TWO priceless pieces of Iraq’s ancient heritage, looted from Baghdad’s main museum in the chaotic days after Saddam Hussein’s fall, have been recovered from a Baghdad cesspool, US officials said.

AN Australian newspaper yesterday claimed to have a tape of Saddam Hussein, recorded just days ago, urging Iraqis to rise up against the coalition forces occupying their country.