U.S. soldiers who pushed into Baghdad on Monday reported finding several kinds of unconventional defenses. Rocket-propelled grenades had been rigged to fire when triggered by passing vehicles and cars and trucks booby-trapped with makeshift bombs had been left at some intersections. U.S. forces have reported little organized resistance to their push into the Iraqi capital. They say they are moving into the city from several directions.

The U.S. military has accused Iraqi forces of using civilians as shields during the war, and of concealing soldiers in civilian areas. "The regime uses places like the Palestine Hotel for other regime purposes," Brooks said. "They try to achieve a degree of protection from other activities that occur there."

Reuters