Chaos in Iraq

BAGHDAD: One day after there was dancing in the streets as US forces helped Iraqis pull down a large statue of Saddam Hussein, the mood in Baghdad changed from celebratory to one of chaos and nervousness as widespread looting continued, a senior Shi'ite cleric was shot dead, a suicide bomber with a grenade killed himself and at least one US marine at a city military checkpoint, and a seven hour pitched battle in Eastern Baghdad which left many casualties.

The looting went on at hospitals, government buildings and luxury residences of known elite associates and friends of Saddam Hussein. Looters plundered the home of Saddam's playboy son, Uday, carrying off bottles of wine, whisky, guns, paintings and anything that they could lay their hands on. Men burst into Iraq's holiest Shi'ite shrine yesterday and killed senior cleric, Abdul Majid al-Khoei and his aide, apparently as part of a power struggle in the city of Najaf now under US control.

Also yesterday, the oil rich city of Kirkuk fell to Kurdish forces who announced they would declare the city the capital of an independent Kurdish state. Turkey immediately objected forcing the US to state that American forces would be in control of Kirkuk. Turkey, which for years fought a Kurdish secession movement at home, has reserved the right to send troops into Northern Iraq to protect its national security, a move that would greatly complicate US operations in the area. Yesterday also it was reported that negotiations were underway for a surrender by Iraqis of the northern city of Mosul.