US forces had earlier asked people to come forward and help bring calm to the capital.

Seven police officers offered their help and US Marines are interviewing people who want to go back to work.

Meanwhile, crowds surged across two reopened bridges in the city, looting areas which had been left alone till now.

Saddam aide 'surrenders'

Another major development is that Saddam Hussein's senior scientific adviser, General Amir al-Saadi, is reported to have surrendered to US troops.

If it's true, Mr al-Saadi would be the first from a list of 55 high ranking Iraqi officials wanted by the United States to surrender.

Mosul's main population is made up of Arabs but it lies in a mostly Kurdish area.

Other main points

• US marines take the town of Kut in eastern Iraq, possibly opening up a new supply routeto Baghdad from the south.
• Syria has been warned by US president George Bush not to shelter Saddam Hussein or any other senior Iraqi leaders
• 20,000 peace campaigners are taking to the streets of London to protest against the continuing war
• Violence continues in the southern city of Basra, where British soldiers shot and killed five men as they tried to rob a bank