Bunker busters blast Baghdad

Baghdad suffered its heaviest night of bombing of the war so far when American war planes targeted Saddam Hussein's command and control facilities and civilian telecommunications systems.

A B2 bomber dropped two 4,700lb satellite-guided " bunkerbusting" bombs on two major communications towers in the centre of the city.

The raids resumed this morning with explosions rocking the capital and churning orange smoke rising over the skyline.

During the bombing, which started shortly after 10 last night, missiles including Tomahawks exploded at two-hourly intervals with each raid lasting 20 minutes.

The Iraqi authorities said the attacks left seven civilians dead and 92 injured.

Two missiles reduced the Saddam International Communications Tower to a shell while a bunker-buster bomb devastated the Sinik Communications Tower. A smaller telecoms centre in nearby Saadun Street was reduced to a smouldering shell.

Aircraft flying overhead attracted bursts of anti-aircraft fire and the Palestine Hotel, home to many reporters, shook violently as a low-flying F16 or F18 warplane sent shock waves through the air. Arab satellite station Al-Jazeera said Baghdad's main telephone exchange was hit and many lines were knocked out. An explosion about 700 yards west of the information ministry sent scores of journalists fleeing. Anti-aircraft guns on the roof of the ministry opened fire, witnesses said. Journalists taken for a tour of the damage reported that the strikes left their targets in ruins but appeared to be remarkably accurate.

Iraqi information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf said: "They hit the ministry of information, ministry of planning, the communications. In these buildings are civilians who go there to do their business.

"These buildings are in the city. When they target these buildings, they also hit houses and homes next to these buildings."

Iraq's satellite television channel cut in and out after the strikes. The US forces - which confirmed the bombardment from Central Command in Qatar - had hoped to prevent Saddam communicating with the population and his commanders.

Also targeted was a building inside the Old Palace presidential compound on the west bank of the Tigris, which includes a Republican Guard camp attacked last week. Ships in the Mediterranean fired about 10 Tomahawks on a housing complex for employees of a weapons-producing facility.