The initial 'decapitation' strikes o­n Baghdad o­n Thursday may have wounded Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's younger son Qusay, claimed the country's opposition.

"We have reports saying that the American attack o­n Radwanieh in Baghdad came during an intelligence meeting headed by Qusay and in the presence of Iraqi vice presidents Taha Yasin Ramadan and Izzat Ibrahim Al Douri," said Mohammed Hariri, from the Tehran-based Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) opposition faction.

A Gulf-News.com report today quoted Hariri as saying that Qusai's injury prompted his brother Udai to publicly order the Fidayee Saddam Brigade, a special suicide army faction, to target American troops.

The official of the Shiite opposition faction also reported a rumour that Udai was hospitalised a few days ago. "Three cars reached the Avicenna Hospital, a private presidential clinic. Rumours have it that it was Udai who was taken to Avicenna."

Explosions in Baghdad

Meanwhile, CNN reported that explosions continued to rock Baghdad this morning and an air force building may have been damaged.

The explosions started at about 5am (Malaysian time) and witnesses said an Iraqi air force building was hit, along with other buildings southeast of the capital that were struck in previous days.

In another development, US Apache attack helicopters carried out a fierce attack o­n Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's most loyal troops, the elite Republican Guard, south of Baghdad.

The gunships encountered stiff anti-aircraft fire about 100km south of Baghdad but it could not be ascertained whether al the US helicopters returned safely.

The attack started after midnight and lasted about three hours, said a CNN correspondent, who was aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that served as the command-and-control craft of the Apache unit.

The Apaches fought the 2nd Armored Brigade of the elite Medina Division of the Republican Guard, Penhaul said. The attack intensified around Karbala.