A glimpse inside Saddam's bunkers

Life inside Saddam Hussein’s Baghdad bunkers was revealed today after a UK journalist was given rare access to the stronghold.

A family portrait, lavish bathrooms and one of Saddam’s granddaughter’s school books were among the discoveries in the retreats below several palaces in the Iraqi capital.

ITV News Correspondent John Irvine was allowed inside the bunkers which were the first to be targeted by cruise missiles at the outset of the war.

ITV said Irvine was the first journalist to be given access to the hideaways, found under seven palaces that run along the Tigress River in the Al Jadriya quarter of the city.

The palaces belonged to several members of Saddam’s family and at least three were damaged by cruise missile attacks.

The bunkers, believed to have been used by Saddam and his sons Uday and Qusay, were protected by metal doors four to five inches thick and remained unscathed but there was evidence of looting and fires.

Among the scenes witnessed by Irvine was a huge picture on the wall of Saddam and his family – the mural was made of stone and marble and remained untouched.

The bunkers had lavish bathrooms and a prescription from the hospital that served only Saddam and his family members was found.

An Iraqi newspaper dated February 2003 was unearthed alongside a children’s English text book with the name of one of Saddam’s granddaughters written in it.

Headed notepaper from Qusay was found as well as envelopes with the name of one of Saddam’s son in law’s who was persuaded to return to Baghdad and then killed by him in 1996.