US administration officials told the channel that reliable intelligence information from a source on the ground had provided details on the location of a meeting of top Iraqi leaders.

Saddam and his two sons were among those at the meeting, prompting US officials to order the building bombed, MSNBC said.

Defense officials could not confirm the report.

"There was an emerging leadership target bombed during the day," the officials said, without identifying the bombs used.

"We have been doing that throughout the war, going after any kind of leadership target, whether regime or military leadership," the official said.

SPACE.WIRE