THE Iraqi capital of Baghdad is preparing for a second night of bombing after the United States launched air strikes on Thursday morning.

The initial attacks marked the start of a campaign to rid Iraq of President Saddam Hussein and his alleged stockpile of weapons of mass destruction.

Officials said the president had survived the assassination attempt unscathed - he appeared unbowed on television to prove the point.

Latest reports say there has been considerable bombardment of southern Iraq by US planes and missiles.

US officials said earlier that Iraq had fired four missiles over the border into northern Kuwait - a claim denied by Baghdad.