Baghdad is blasted from the skies

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.

Iraqi officials said at least seven people were killed, and news reports said eight more died yesterday afternoon.

The bombings led by two 4,700-pound, satellite-guided "bunker-busting" bombs were aimed at disrupting communications between Saddam Hussein's leadership and his military, US officials said.