WASHINGTON, April 9: US Vice-President Dick Cheney warned on Wednesday that although coalition forces had captured Baghdad, the war was not over.

“I cannot predict with certainty how quickly this war will be over,” he told the American Society of Newspaper Editors, adding he was pleased with the progress so far.

“I will caution everybody that we still have a lot to do,” Mr Cheney said.

The White House also echoed similar feelings when spokesman Ari Fleischer warned: “This remains a time of utmost caution.”

Commenting on television footage showing US soldiers marching into the streets of Baghdad, Mr Fleischer said: “What you’re seeing in parts of Baghdad is only that, one section of Baghdad. There are many dangerous areas of Baghdad for our armed forces that remain.”

“There are many other cities in Iraq that are dangerous,” he added.

“As much as the president is pleased to see the progress of the military campaign ... he remains very cautious because he knows there is great danger that can still lie ahead,” he said.

Vice-President Cheney said the disintegration of Iraq’s central authority was taking place but the fighting could continue for some time.

“We are seeing the collapse of the central regime authority,” he said.

A senior US official said President Bush was “heartened” by continuing good reports from the field.

“As well as things have gone, this is still a military mission and therefore lives are still at stake, but obviously the progress has been very good,” the official said.