US troops raid Baghdad palaces

A US military source has said two presidential palaces, including the Republican Palace, have been raided.

US tanks have also been so close to the Ministry of Information “that they could see us“.

A source said: “We have been to two palaces and searched them and we have visited the Ministry of Information area.

“We are moving about freely throughout Baghdad and we are doing that very methodically.

“This is not a joyride, there are specific strategic reasons for this.

“It is not necessarily the beginning of the end, it’s another day on the battlefield."

Baghdad had been “isolated“, he said, with all main arteries cut off to stop movement of regime leaders and military vehicles.

“The coalition forces have isolated Baghdad and we will continue to apply this pressure until the regime topples.”

However, Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf claimed US soldiers were being “slaughtered in their hundreds at the walls of Baghdad“.

In a bizarre impromptu press conference, in which he ignored the sound of gunfire down the road, al-Sahhaf denied there were US tanks in the city.

He said the US had claimed to have taken the Al Rashid hotel and the Ministry of Information.

“Absolutely that’s not true,” he said.

“I can tell you that because I am here at the Ministry of Information.”

As live television pictures showed US tanks parked in the heart of the city, close to the ministry, al-Sahhaf continued his extraordinary performance.

“They said they have entered Baghdad in 65 tanks, into the centre of the city, and I am telling you this is not true,” he said.

“This is part of their sick game.

“We have slaughtered three-quarters of them so far.

“There is no presence of the American columns in Baghdad at all.

“Their columns are slaughtered and they have been fed a sour taste, a poison, by the brave forces of Saddam Hussein.

“They are beginning to commit suicide at the walls of Baghdad and I encourage them to increase the rate of suicide.

“Their columns are being killed in the hundreds at the walls of Baghdad.

“We have fed them hell and death.

“Washington and London have thrown their soldiers into the fire. They are war criminals.

“They will bury their soldiers in hell, sent there by the hands of the Iraqis.

“The battle was fierce and God has victored his soldiers.

“Baghdad is safe and solid and the Iraqis and the Baghdadians are heroes.”