Huge explosions were heard in southern outskirts of the city, where the Iraqi elite troops of the Republican Guards reportedly are headquartered after sirens sounded.

"The warplanes appeared to fly with a very high altitude, apparently to avoid Iraqi anti-aircraft fires," the Xinhua reporter said.

Earlier on Wednesday, a residential area in the north of the capital was bombarded by the coalition warplanes. About 14 civilians were killed and another 30 were injured.

Meanwhile, the official Iraqi news agency quoted a high-ranking Iraqi official as saying that the US and British troops are gathering civilians in southern Iraq and claimed them as prisoners of war (POWs).

The official accused the US and Britain of violating Geneva Convention by taking such measures.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2003)