Washington: Asserting that the days of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein are numbered, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on March 20 said the coalition forces have hit a senior Iraqi leadership compound in the first wave of strikes.

"The days of Saddam Hussein are numbered. We continue to feel there is no need for broader conflict if the Iraqi leaders act to save themselves and avoid such conflict.

"Coalition forces hit a senior Iraqi leadership compound last evening (March 19)," he told a press conference. The damage assessment of the hit by the coalition forces on the senior Iraqi leadership compound is still pending.

Iraqi forces may have set three or four oil wells on fire in southern Iraq, he said.

The military operation has been codenamed "Iraq freedom", Rumsfeld said.

PTI