Fierce bombardment of Baghdad saw a series of major explosions reverberate through the city today, igniting an inferno in the Iraqi ministry of information.

US FORCES will surround Baghdad within five to 10 days but are destined to spend months embroiled in savage street fighting, the Iraqi regime predicted last night.

IN the first seven days of fighting in Iraq, accidents and friendly fire — not enemy actions — accounted for nearly two-thirds of the reported deaths of US and British troops.

“WE let them go for a walk in the desert, but all our towns will resist.”

Almost a week into the war, and America’s “shock and awe” air campaign has yet to achieve its broader aim: a quick surrender by the Iraqi regime that would avert all-out war for control of Baghdad.

Coalition forces have begun a massive aerial bombardment of Iraqi Republican Guard units entrenched just outside Saddam Hussein’s capital, military chiefs said today.

TROOPS and equipment from the Iraqi Republican Guard have begun moving south toward Baghdad from their base near Mosul in northern Iraq, US defence officials said yesterday.

The US has reportedly launched a military and intelligence effort to track down and possibly kill Saddam Hussein.