Iraqis ‘will strike back’BR>

WITH thousands of frightened residents fleeing Baghdad and US troops in control of its airport, the Iraqi information minister promised yesterday that his nation’s military would launch an “unconventional” counter-attack against the coalition troops.

"We will do something which I believe is very beautiful," said Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf at a Baghdad news conference, adding that the Iraqis planned to strike back "in an unconventional way".

Asked if that meant the use of chemical weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, he quickly said no.

"What I meant are commando and martyrdom operations in a very new, creative way," Mr al-Sahhaf said.

US armoured units, backed by warplanes, had earlier seized control of Baghdad's airport just 10 miles south of the city's centre.

2,500 Republican Guard soldiers south of the capital surrendered to Marines, American officials said.