Richard Downes reports from Basra

The authorities took one of the BBC's Iraq correspondents, Richard Downes, on an escorted 600km (375 mile) trip south from the capital to the port city of Basra to assess signs of destruction.

He said the centre of the country looked to be under military siege.

Chaperoned by government minders, he was taken to where a post office and telecommunications centre once stood.

Assessing the damage in Basra

One man told him two people were killed and six wounded when it was hit by three cruise missiles on the first night of the four-day bombing campaign.

Locals said they were angry at the bombardment - the most extensive ever by cruise missiles. They described it as a pointless and destructive exercise.

"This was a criminal and outrageous act by America, they must stop attacking Iraq," said one man.

Recovery under way

Iraq has yet to fully assess the destruction caused by the raids, but the clean-up operation is under way.

Construction workers with bulldozers have been quickly dispatched in Baghdad and Basra. Our correspondent says Iraq will take a long time to repair the damage, but it will recover.

People rebuilding the Basra telecom centre said it could be back up and running within two weeks, despite appearing to have extensive damage.

The Iraqi ambassador to the United Nations, Nizar Hamdoon, has said thousands of people, mostly civilians, were killed or injured in the four nights of bombardment.

But with reporters kept under close control it has been hard to get independent confirmation of figures or assessment of damage.

Iraqi officials would not allow reporters to visit the 126,000 barrels a day Basra oil refinery on Sunday.

Although it is heavily damaged, Iraqi officials are reported to be saying it can be repaired.

US officials have accused Iraq of using southern refineries and ports in a smuggling operation to circumvent UN sanctions.