Baghdad: Hunt goes on for Saddam's henchmen

American forces were today expected to step up their hunt for the remnants of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Baghdad, after four US Marines were seriously injured in a suicide attack in the centre of the Iraqi capital.

In contrast to the celebrations seen just a few days ago, there was fierce fighting in parts of the city yesterday and the Allies were dealt a blow last night when a bomber blew himself up at a checkpoint near the Palestine Hotel.

Reports have suggested that at least one of the soldiers had been killed.

Captain Joe Plenzler, a Marines spokesman in Baghdad, said: “A man with explosives strapped to his body walked up to the checkpoint and detonated himself. Four Marines are injured. We have security, but nothing is foolproof.”

Maj Gen Victor Renuart, director of operations at the US Central Command in Qatar said: “Baghdad is still an ugly place.”

American forces also face the prospect of continued looting after thousands of people ransacked offices and buildings yesterday for everything they could carry.

As looting spread across the city centre, the German embassy and the transport ministry were targeted as was the French Cultural Centre.

Yesterday, US forces launched an assault on the area around a palace and mosque following intelligence that regime leaders had been meeting there.

One marine was killed and more than 20 were injured in the “intense fighting”.

Central Command spokesman Frank Thorp said Marines came under fire from the area of the mosque.

Thorp said he did not know if Saddam was among the leaders trying to meet at a Baath party official’s home in the area.

There were reports that the men shooting from inside the mosque were foreigners – Syrians, Yemenis and Lebanese – and that they were well supplied with weapons and ammunition.

The fighting was an example of the disorganised, but at times fierce, resistance still facing US forces in Baghdad.

It served to emphasise the message from military commanders and politicians that the war was not yet over.

But military commanders said the resistance was sporadic.

“We are not seeing any organised resistance,” said Navy Captain Frank Thorp at Central Command.