Missile silences Iraqi TV

State-run Iraqi Television was knocked off the air today in a US missile strike aimed at silencing Saddam Hussein's propaganda machine.

The move follows outrage after US prisoners of war were paraded on television but was also designed to disrupt the regime's hold over the Iraqi people, damaging its "command and control capability".

The Tomahawk cruise missile hit the main television station, leaving buildings ablaze in central Baghdad, while other air strikes were aimed at government communications and satellite links at several sites in the capital. Domestic television was not broadcasting at the time so it is unclear whether the attack has completely removed the regime's ability to broadcast.

Monitors in Britain confirmed that the signal from Iraqi Satellite TV, which broadcasts 24 hours a day outside the country, had gone off the air. The domestic state television channel resumed limited broadcasts three hours after the air raid, with verses from the Koran at about 6am UK time. Iraq's international satellite channel still appeared to be off the air.

However, the voice of Saddam Hussein blared out from audio tapes played through loudspeakers on the minarets of hundreds of mosques across Baghdad today. The regime's propaganda machine hijacked the loudspeakers - traditionally used to call the faithful to prayer - to ensure Saddam's message of defiance would continue to be heard.

The loss of the TV centre is a major blow to the regime. In his last broadcast, Saddam appealed directly to Iraqi tribal chiefs to join the fight against allied forces, telling them: "Those of you who have been reluctant to fight and waiting for the order, consider this to be the command of faith and jihad and fight them." In recent days the TV station has sought to boost morale by showing a movie of Richard Burton in the role of Yugoslav wartime leader Tito, whose partisans defied 10 Nazi divisions - conveying the message that you can win ... provided you have the right leader. Other films have shown the "heroic" fight put up by the Egyptians against the Israeli army in 1967.

Since yesterday Baghdad has been covered in a dense orange cloud caused by burning oil and blinding sandstorms. But for many life goes on as normal: women continue to hang out their washing on rooftops, seemingly oblivious of the toxic atmosphere; official buildings are painted; bushes are trimmed on central-reservations; in the cafés, men continue to play backgammon and smoke their hubble-bubble pipes.

If the Iraqis do gradually retreat into the urban areas of the city to conduct street-by-street warfare, it could be both militarily and politically disastrous. The warning of such a battle was made yesterday by a senior Iraqi minister, Amar Rashid, the Minister for Oil and Petroleum. He warned: "We will fight them in our cities. It will be a people war, not a technology war."

The minister, who was trained as a nuclear physicist and educated at London and Birmingham universities, added: "Let them come to Baghdad - we are waiting for them... and we will crush them." Evidence of the plan to fight an urban war was also visible on every Baghdad street as local militia groups spent much of the day digging defensive trenches.

"We will make this like the First World War," said Ahmed al-Tawaz, a militia man aged 52. "In every street there will be men in trenches who will fight to keep Iraq from Americans."

The TV station attack marks a new phase of the war. American commanders have now decided to put down Saddam's guerrilla fighters before beginning the land battle for Baghdad. At least 40 explosions were heard during dawn raids on the Republican Guard's entrenched positions south of the city. The Republican-Guard positions are also expected to face a new barrage today as at least one B52 bomber took off again from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire shortly before 4am UK time, carrying cruise missiles and 2,000lb Jdam smart bombs.

Meanwhile, the BBC has been attacked for "one-sided" war coverage - by its own defence correspondent. Paul Adams, based in Qatar, claimed the corporation was putting its credibility on the line by saying British troops were paying a "high price for small victories". Adams told his bosses in a leaked memo: "I was gobsmacked to hear in a set of headlines today that the coalition was suffering 'significant casualties'. This is simply NOT TRUE.'"