Beginning around 5:00 am (0100 GMT), explosions and artillery fire could be heard coming from the south as well as occasional blasts in the city center.

At least two massive explosions were heard in central Baghdad just after midnight (2000 GMT Saturday), another AFP correspondent had reported.

The exact targets of the explosions were unclear, but the correspondent said the blasts were unusually powerful.

Explosions were still being heard half an hour later.

Iraqi artillery fire could also be heard from the southern suburbs of the city.

Earlier Saturday night, a missile struck the Tigris river next to Saddam Hussein's main presidential palace about the same time a plane roared overhead. Smoke rose briefly from the water.

The sprawling Republican Palace on the banks of the Tigris has been repeatedly hit by bombs or missiles since the US-led coalition launched the war March 20 aimed at toppling Saddam.

The US military said its ground forces Saturday penetrated the capital for the first time since seizing the main airport on Friday, whose capture was denied by Iraq.

SPACE.WIRE