Saddam loses Grip on Baghdad, Iraqis Cheer U.S. Troops, Loot

As U.S. forces moved through one neighborhood after another, crowds of Baghdad residents seized the chance to plunder military installations and government buildings, making off with computers, bookshelves, tables, even Iraqi jeeps.

The Arab language satellite TV station Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. reported from Baghdad that there was no sign of Iraqi government or military presence in the city.

LBC's correspondent Sultan Suleiman said neither Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf nor any ministry "minders" had shown up at the Palestine Hotel where hundreds of journalists are staying.