American troops have left the centre of Baghdad.

Iraqi authorities have arranged trips by journalists to city areas after making sure that fighting had died down there.

Baghdad's streets are deserted.

Machine-gun and mortar fire report is heard from outskirts.

Meanwhile, American military said two US Marines were killed and many were wounded in fighting for Baghdad last night.

According to witnesses, the Iraqi artillery destroyed several armoured vehicles on a bridge across the Tigris in the eastern part of Baghdad.