Several loud explosions were heard along with the sound of warplanes flying over the city, the Arabic-language station's corespondent in the city said.

It was the third time during the day that the city had come under fire, but there was no indication of what the targets might be, although the correspondent suggested: "The raids are focused on military zones where Iraqi forces are stationed."

Columns of smoke were seen rising from several points within the city limits as well as from the outskirts, he said.

Earlier in the day, raids were reported on the outskirts of the city but the location of the blasts was unclear.

Mosul is a majority-Arab city of 1.5 million in a mostly Kurdish area.

It is under the control of forces loyal to President Saddam Hussein and, together with the northern oil capital of Kirkuk, is the main goal of Kurdish rebel groups advancing with the support of coalition forces.

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