In Iraq, the home of the unelected Prime Minister Ayad Allawi came under mortar attack just hours after he was given the right to declare martial law. Four people were injured. Allawi was unharmed.

In Baghdad the new Iraqi government forces came under an intense attack yesterday by the Iraqi resistance and fought in what the New York Times described as “one of the biggest” firefights in the capital since the invasion. At least four Iraqis were killed. 30 more wounded. The fight didn’t end until the US sent in air support. One wounded Iraqi soldier said of the resistance “We could see them on the rooftop. We could see them on the balconies, throwing grenades and shooting. We fired back, and then it seemed like all the buildings started to attack us.” And in Samara, at least four US soldiers died today.