"There is no question the regime has lost control, and that represents a great turning point for the people of Iraq as the regime is gone," spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

But US President George W. Bush's joy at toppling Saddam is muted "because we still have American troops in harm's way," battling die-hard loyalists, and therefore "there may be more wounded, there may be more dead," he added.

"There still are Baath party officials who maintain some loyalty to what is left of the regime, and therefore there are still dangers ahead," said Fleischer. "So the military mission remains underway."

Prodded by reporters on whether he meant to declare Saddam's regime dead, the spokesman replied: "If you're involved in a firefight with some of the loyal elements that are left, it hasn't quite disappeared yet."

But "from the point of view of a centralized command authority ... the regime is gone."

SPACE.WIRE