The mood after my previous post turned more rebellious, and Iraqi citizens started attempting to pull down the statue of Saddam in the middle of the square opposite the Palestine Hotel. US Marines joined in the effort, finally pulling down the statue just before 3pm GMT.

A ridiculous and obscene gesture by a US Marine of putting the Stars and Stripes over the head of the statue was quickly reversed, and the old Iraqi flag was placed around the neck of the statue before it was pulled down.

There’s now an updated story on BBC News Online about what’s happened today.

More pictures from BBC News 24 to illustrate events —