The explosions were first heard around 6:15 am (0215 GMT) and were continuing a half hour later.

The activity seemed to be coming from the direction of the international airport, which was seized two days ago by US troops.

The sound of machine-gun fire could also be heard intermittently.

US warplanes flew, at low altitudes sometimes, over Baghdad all night without bombing any targets, according to the correspondent

SPACE.WIRE