For the first time since the US-led war began on March 20, Iraqis on Tuesday lost sight and sound of their president.

If he survived Monday's second deliberate attempt by the United States to kill him, Saddam will have to find a new way of outfoxing US intelligence to comfort his people and show he is still in charge.

The 65-year-old known by all Iraqis as "Mr President" found a simple answer on Friday by taking two walks on the streets of Baghdad under the nose of US tanks and warplanes.

By word of mouth, news of the impromptu walkabout during daylight hours spread quickly round town and state-run television later aired lengthy footage during the evening.

However another such stunt looked suicidal on Tuesday as US forces took root in the main presidential palace compound and Apache attack helicopters flew low over the city where fighting raged for hours.

Saddam's smiling face and songs to his eternal rule have for years been the the staple fodder pumped out by the television into virtually every Iraqi home.

His sudden disappearance puzzled his people.

"Whether you like him or not, seeing him on television we knew he was still in charge," said Madi, a 30-year-old taxi-driver.

Selim, a retired civil servant, confided that the lack of news about Saddam was "worrying".

"Just by appearing on television when we are under the bombs was a show of strength," he added.

Saddam was last spotted on the TV Monday afternoon chairing a meeting of senior military and political officers, including his younger son Qussay, head of the elite Republican Guard.

In military uniform, Saddam presided over proceedings from behind a desk next to bay windows with the curtains open to let in the sun.

US Central Command said US warplanes dropped four bombs on a building in Baghdad around that time after receiving intelligence that senior Iraqi leaders were inside.

A Pentagon official added that Saddam and his two sons were thought to be in the building in the Al-Mansur residential district. But it was not known if they had died.

The Washington Times reported that the strikes targeted the Sa'ah restaurant where Saddam and Baath party leaders had gathered with about 30 members of Iraq's secret service, behind or under the eatery.

It was the same place where Saddam went walkabout on Friday, and the daily said the pictures had helped pinpoint the spot.

Witnesses told AFP that 14 civilians died under the bombs which wrecked several buildings.

Staunch Saddam supporters may find consolation in the innumerable statues still standing in the fours corners of the capital.

From their rooms at the downtown hotel struck by US fire on Tuesday, journalists could admire the last statue to be erected as part of the personality cult surrounding Saddam.

It towers over Al-Fardus square where it was inaugurated on April 28 last year, the day of the president's birthday.

Arms raised, the enormous bronze stands on a marble base surrounded by 37 columns -- he was born in 1937 -- each bearing the initials SH in Arabic.

Any Iraqi still inclined to believe the official assurances that victory is nigh can turn to one of Saddam's "commandments" inscribed on a plaque at a major crossroads in the capital:

"In battle with the enemy, do not use all your means of attack from the start. Do not believe that doing so will bring victory, because, on the contrary, the battle will turn against you and your enemy will triumph."

SPACE.WIRE