April 10, 2003	Thursday	Safar 7, 1424

* President Saddam’s rule in Baghdad collapses as US forces sweep into capital to ecstatic welcome and looting; Iraqis dance on giant statue of Saddam toppled by US troops

* US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says fighting in Iraq will continue for some period; says Saddam and sons need to be acccounted for, that there is some intelligence Syria has cooperated in moving Iraqis

* New firing, possibly from tanks, heard from west of Tigris in Baghdad

* US Vice President Dick Cheney says U.S, Iraqi officials to meet in southern Iraq on Saturday to begin planning for interim government

* US, Kurdish forces dislodge Iraqis from mountain used to defend the northern city of Mosul

* US says holds 7,300 POWs

QUOTES:

Mr Rumsfeld: “There is no question but that there are difficult and very dangerous days ahead and that the fighting will continue for some period.”

US General Buford Blount: “There may be more combat in the north, but in Baghdad and the south the end of the combat phase is days away.”

CASUALTIES

* US - 96 dead, 10 missing

* Britain - 30 dead

* Iraqi military - More than 2,320, according to US military. Iraq has given no figures for its military losses

* Iraqi civilians (Iraqi estimates as of April 3) - 1,252 killed, 5,103 injured

MILITARY ACTION

BAGHDAD: About 20 US tanks, other military vehicles take up positions near Tahrir Square, on the east bank of the Tigris, considered the heart of the Iraqi capital. Cheering crowds sack UN headquarters east of centre.

US tanks rumble up to the Palestine Hotel, in central Baghdad, observed by the international media crews who have been based there. US Marines seize what they described as a headquarters of the Iraqi secret police. US troops pull down a tall statue of Saddam as crowd of Iraqis cheers. —Reuters