Hundreds of cars filled the heart of Baghdad, creating the biggest traffic jams since the war started more than three weeks ago, as local residents queued up for jobs in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.

US Marines set up a screening desk in the Palestine Hotel seeking to put Iraqis back to work in key sectors, while meetings were held on rebuilding the police and power departments, a Marines spokeswoman said.

"The idea obviously is to get everything back working," said Gunnery Sergeant Claudia Lamantia, of the 1st Marines Expeditionary Force.

Since Saddam's regime collapsed on Wednesday, the Americans have come in for increasing criticism for failing to stem looting and establish security and other basic services in the ravaged country.

Baghdad, a city of five million people, has been without electricity for about 10 days while most homes are also without water and telephone services. Public transportation is non-existent.

Near the screening desk for returning Iraqi workers in the lobby of the Palestine Hotel, Lamantia was getting an earful of complaints from local citizens.

"There are fears that this is not happening fast enough," she said. "We are trying to do things one thing at a time."

SPACE.WIRE