The US forces have evidently stepped up the operation to crack down on insurgents in Baghdad as of early Wednesday.

Dozens of explosions were heard across the capital city after sunset and the successive bombardments appeared stronger shortly after 00:30 am (2130 GMT Tuesday).

A US helicopter was heard hovering over the southern neighborhoods in the city.

US military said the explosions were probably part of the ongoing US operation code-named Iron Justice, which started early December.

A military spokesman could not confirm if the fresh shelling was related to the capture of Saddam Hussein, but he confessed no major bombardments were made before and immediately after the capture.  

The insurgency has shown no sign of decline since the former Iraqi leader was caught by US troops on Dec. 13 in an underground hole near his hometown of Tikrit. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2003)