Air attacks on Baghdad resumed early Saturday morning after the heaviest raids on the city Friday night since the beginning of the US-led attack to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

A huge explosion shook central Baghdad at dawn and the sound of aircraft could be heard overhead while air raid warning sirens went off over the capital, a Xinhua correspondent said.

The new missile attack occurred at 05:30 a.m. local time.

On Friday night, the second consecutive night of the war, bombs dropped by coalition warplanes and missiles rained on Baghdad, causing huge fireballs and explosions in central parts of the city and sending columns of clouds into the sky.

The Xinhua correspondent saw missiles hitting a main palace complex of President Saddam Hussein and some government buildings during the attack on Friday night.

Two presidential palaces -- the Salam-Slaan Palace and the La-zal-hor Palace, Iraq's Military Industrialization Commission headquarters and military intelligence headquarters were also hit.

The raids were part of US "shock and awe operation," which started Friday evening.

US forces fired about 320 missiles at Baghdad and surrounding areas during the Friday evening attacks.

Rear Admiral Matthew G. Moffit, commander of the Kitty Hawk battle group deployed in the Gulf, said "approximately 320 missiles have been fired at targets in and around Baghdad."

Iraqi president Saddam Hussein appeared on local TV screens Friday evening.

On the screens, Saddam was wearing his military uniform during a meeting with his son Quasi and his Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed.

Saddam's appearance on the TV screen indicated that he is still alive and control the nation.

Earlier in the day, the United States claimed that Saddam started to lose control and might be injured after the US "shock and awe operation" on Baghdad and its surrounding areas.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2003)