Two large explosions rocked the center of Baghdad just after midnight on Saturday, Reuters said. Several hours earlier a bomb hit central Baghad near the Palestine Hotel were many foreign journalists are based.
Meanwhile, Iraqi television showed footage on Saturday evening of President Saddam Hussein in a meeting with his two sons, top aides and military commanders.
The president, wearing military fatigues and smiling, sat in a windowless room at a large table. Seated near him were his sons Qusay and Uday. Iraqi television said the footage was from Saturday.
Taped appearances by Saddam have become more frequent in recent days as American forces focused their military campaign on Baghdad.
In Basra, invasion forces have bombed the house of a senior Iraqi commander. US Central Command said two aircraft targeted Ali Hassan al-Majeed's home with laser-guided munitions early on Saturday.
Al-Majeed is Saddam Hussein's cousin and in charge of Iraq's southern front.
A statement from US Central Command said: "The strike was part of an ongoing effort to end Saddam Hussein's regime. Ali is a member of the Iraqi president's inner circle." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
