Tikrit resistance crumbles

American tanks stormed into Tikrit early today and took up position in the the central square of Saddam Hussein's home town and last remaining stronghold.

It was a hugely symbolic moment which heralded the final blow for the ousted Iraqi regime. Most of the northern city's defenders fled without a fight after a massive all-night bombardment by US strike aircraft.

But the job is not yet over. Up to 2,500 of the dictator's more die-hard loyalists are still feared to be firmly entrenched and prepared for what sources at Central Command claimed could be a "last stand".

Today, as the US marines braced themselves for further action, Apache and Cobra helicopter gunships flew low over the rooftops to find the last pockets of the fighters, some of them believed to be Fedayeen loyalists.

The pilots were attempting to draw out fire from sniper positions so they could fire back with their heavy machineguns and air-to-ground missiles, clearing the way for the ground forces to advance. In the early stages of the attack they destroyed several Iraqi tanks and at least 15 Iraqi infantry.

The few remaining Iraqi fighters are thought to include the remnants of the Republican Guard's Adnan division, most of whom have fled from the town. More are expected to flee today and simply return home, said US Marine Lieutenant Colonel Bob Sinclair.

Marine light tanks have probed their way into the town of 30,000 people but have not set up a permanent presence. "We got the foothold in the city that we wanted," Lt-Col Sinclair said. More than 300 lightly-armoured vehicles have been involved in the advance and heavier forces, including dozens of M1 Abrams battle tanks, are due to arrive later today.

The light reconnaissance vehicles have made a series of entries into the city and today are preparing to make a move in force to the heart of Tikrit, where a massive "summer palace" used by Saddam lies on the banks of the Tigris. It is believed to be built on top of a network of bunkers and tunnels, where intelligence reports indicate some of Saddam's inner circle may have taken refuge.

Thousands of US marines are now surrounding the city, leaving just the road to the north unprotected to give the last remnants of resistance the opportunity to leave without a fight.

They are also investigating claims by Arabic news network Al-Jazeera that tribal leaders in Tikrit are trying to organise a deal with American forces to avoid a battle.

The network said locals believed the Republican Guard had started to quit their positions five days ago and leaders now wanted to speak to US commanders to reach a peace settlement.

But outside the town there were still firefights involving American soldiers and Iraqi resistance. Commanders called in airstrikes from dozens of aircraft-circling Tikrit to crush the fightersand even destroyed a whole armoured column making a last-ditch bid to advance on the Marines.

There was also fighting around the town of Samaara, just south of Tikrit, where yesterday seven American prisoners of war were discovered. The town lies directly on the road between Tikrit and Baghdad and today hundreds of Marines were still engaged in rooting out the last Iraqi fighters.

Its strategic value also includes a pharmaceutical plant, to which chemical and biological weapons investigators are keen to gain access.