Planes roared at a low altitude in the Iraqi capital during the afternoon. Iraqi anti-aircraft defenses opened fire despite minimal visibility due to the smoke and dust covering the city.

Artillery fire inside the Republican Palace compound, which had eased after fierce fighting in the morning, became much more sustained again around 2:00 pm (1000 GMT).

It was not immediately clear whether US or Iraqi forces were doing the firing.

Loud explosions could also be heard sporadically from a distance.

SPACE.WIRE