The blasts, which resumed at 9:45 am (0545 GMT), could be heard in central Baghdad coming from the south, they said.

The Iraqi capital had come under renewed coalition bombardment just before dawn Sunday.

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.

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 to oust Saddam on March 20.

The overnight activity came after a 17th day of hostilities when US troops rode tanks deep into Baghdad for the first time in a bid to show the Iraqi people that Saddam no longer wields absolute power.

They met resistance and a small area of southwestern Baghdad became a battlefield with abandoned Iraqi military vehicles burning on the streets.

On Sunday, Baghdad appeared relatively normal, with slow traffic and public transportation running as usual.

Most shops were still closed, but cafes opened for early morning risers drinking the traditional dark tea.

SPACE.WIRE