THUNDEROUS explosions rocked Baghdad yesterday and a towering column of churning orange smoke rose over the skyline in some of the mightiest bombardment of the Iraqi capital in days.

BRITISH forces battled more than 1,000 die-hard Iraqi loyalists for control of Basra yesterday , coming to the defence of inhabitants who rose up against President Saddam Hussein in the streets of Iraq’s second-largest city.

British forces waged fierce battles today with more than 1,000 Iraqi militia fighters around Basra, supporting what they said seemed to be a popular uprising against Saddam Hussein by many in the city.

SADDAM HUSSEIN’S regime was reported to be under attack from his own people and from coalition forces last night as bombs rained down on Baghdad, and the population of Basra staged an uprising.