Dozens of Iraqi and Arab fighters in civilian clothing took up position behind buildings or sandbagged positions with the aim of stopping American tanks crossing Al-Jumhurya bridge to the eastern bank of the city.

The slight rise in the center of the bridge prevented them from seeing the western bank clearly.

"Baghdad has not fallen and will never fall," said Mohammed al-Dahruj, a 24-year-old Syrian who volunteered to fight US-led forces in Iraq.

Armed like his brothers-in-arms with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and hand-held rocket launchers, he stressed that US forces were "encircled and their supplies cut off."

"The enemy cannot budge. We feel stronger than the Americans despite their military superiority because, contrary to them, we defend a cause."

Khalid, a member of Saddam Hussein's loyal Fedayeen paramilitary militia, was equally as defiant. "We love death as they (the Americans) love life," he said.

"We fight to defend our homeland and will stand firm whatever the price because we are ready to sacrifice our lives for Iraq."

According to Khalid, "no tank has crossed from the other bank and, thanks to God, they will never cross."

On the other side of the Tigris, one American tank deployed not far from Saddam's main Republican Palace advanced without problem and fired its cannon at a blockhouse Saddam had built in the area as a symbolic gesture of his power.

In the ensuing confusion, cars made U-turns and sped off, and looting youths ran for cover.

Most Baghdad residents did not realise that the city looked set to fall after three weeks of war.

One retired soldier told AFP: "We can resist. We're not hungry because the trade ministry gave us six months of food rations."

Further north, three old Iraqi tanks and troop transporters were deployed in Aden square, a seemingly derisory force in light of the invading coalition's massive military might.

SPACE.WIRE