US President George W. Bush announced earlier Wednesday night that he has ordered military strikes against Iraq but the war is still in early stages. He said selected targets in Baghdad were attacked. The first strikes, officials say, are of a decapitating nature.

"At this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq," Bush said in a nationally-televised address.

"On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war."

The strikes started about 5.30 a.m. Thursday Baghdad time (0230GMT), about one and a half hours after Bush's ultimatum for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to flee expired.

Big explosions were heard in Baghdad, the sky was lit up by flashes of anti-aircraft fire and sirens were heard throughout the city, home to some 5 million people.

Buildings of the Iraqi leadership were attacked in the three rounds of US air raids on Baghdad, leaving several casualties, but it remained unknown that any top Iraqi officials were among the injured.

The war began after the United States, Britain and Spain failed to win support of the majority in the UN Security Council for their draft resolution that would have authorized a war on Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2003)