Five armoured vehicles were deployed in one of the main squares of the town, 180 kilometres (115 miles) north of Baghdad. It was not immediately clear if the soldiers were US marines or infantry.

The town was deserted of Iraqi regular troops and much of its 100,000 population. But a handful of Tikritis emerged from their homes to catch a glimpse of the US troops.

Outside the city centre, witnesses reported gunfire as residents warded off looters, but there was no immediate confirmation.

An official announcement of the fall of Tikrit would signal the symbolic end of Saddam's regime in the US-led war launched on March 20. Tikrit was the last major town not under the control of coalition forces.

SPACE.WIRE