After fruitless efforts by Iraqis it took the marines and a tank recovery vehicle with a crane to secure a chain round the statue's neck and back up to pull it over. Saddam hung on in horizontal position until another tug finally brought him to the ground.

Dozens of Iraqis jumped on the figure shouting with joy.

The statue was demolished after US tanks rumbled on to al-Fardus (Paradise) square in late afternoon and dozens of people quickly gathered to watch and warmly welcome the troops.

The crowd soon set about trying to destroy the monument in a symbolic gesture marking the collapse of Saddam's Baath Party regime.

One huge Iraqi took a sledge hammer to the massive marble base and after a few mighty blows passed on to eager men queuing for a go before returning to the task himself.

SPACE.WIRE