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Thousands flee battered capital

AFP, Baghdad
Hundreds of families fled Baghdad Tuesday morning, reported an AFP correspondent who saw cars heading mainly toward the east of the country.
Cars, trucks and minibuses were seen driving in the direction of the northern ash-Shaab district opening onto a highway leading east to Diyala, around 100 kilometers (63 miles) from Baghdad.
The vehicles were stacked with mattresses, kitchen utensils, beds and food.
Women and children could be seen in the cars fleeing intense bombing of the capital.
In the ash-Shaab (people's) district, where three people were killed by the US-British bombing Monday, Jabbar Keleish, his wife, their 10 children and daughter-in-law got into three cars for a drive to the perceived safety of Ghalbiyah to the northwest.
"We'd better go after the bombing," said Kheleish, 49.
A considerable number of residents appeared to be leaving the district, located near a strategic spot.
"I'm closing the house and leaving with my family for a safer place. I will come back every now and then to see if something happened," said Ali Rishek, 53, before driving away with his wife and their three children.
With smoke pouring out of his chief presidential palace compound under assault from US troops prowling the Iraqi capital, Saddam Hussein made a fresh appearance Monday in a bid to show he was still in charge.
The Iraqi strongman was seen on state television meeting with top military and political brass including his son Qussay, head of the elite Republican Guard.
Saddam has stepped up his appearances on television in recent days and even taken a well-publicized walk on the capital's streets to counter the mounting impression that his grip on power is slipping.
But it was not clear when or where the meeting took place.
Meanwhile, huge explosions boomed out over the main Republican Palace, a key symbol of Saddam's power, as US forces launched a raid into the sprawling riverside compound in the heart of Baghdad.
AFP reporters saw 10 US marines in full combat gear inside the palace, which has been pounded repeatedly since the US-led coalition launched the war 19 days ago.
US troops met with fierce resistance at the compound where dozens of black-clad Iraqi elite troops were seen running along a bank and entering one of the main buildings.
Amid heavy exchanges of mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire, clouds of smoke covered the 2.5-square kilometre (one-square mile) palace, which houses Saddam's personal office and an underground bunker designed to withstand nuclear attack.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Bayer, operations officer for the US army's 3rd Infantry Division, said US troops had "secured the main presidential palace" and another palace in the city center as well as a third near the airport.
But Iraq insisted it was still in control, with Information Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf assuring reporters the invaders would be "massacred".
"They pushed forward some troop transporters and tanks, we have surrounded them with our troops," Sahhaf said.