Blasts and intermittent fire were heard in the early afternoon from the center of the city. It was difficult to assess the situation at the sprawling Republican Palace, which was concealed by thick smoke.

A couple of hours earlier, AFP reporters saw 10 US marines in full combat gear in the palace on the banks of the Tigris River, with two Bradley fighting vehicles and two Abrams tanks at the complex's entrance.

US forces said they had seized the compound along with two other palaces in Baghdad, claims denied by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al-Sahhaf.

In the morning five massive blasts boomed out of the Republican Palace, which has been pounded repeatedly since the US-led coalition launched the war on March 20.

An arms depot had caught fire and thick white smoke covered the palace. Fuel trenches inside the compound were set ablaze belching out layers of black smoke.

The Republican Palace includes dozens of buildings, including Saddam's personal office and an underground bunker designed to withstand nuclear attack.

US commanders said they had employed some 65 tanks and 40 Bradley fighting vehicles in the raid "through the city."

SPACE.WIRE