Baghdad: Five people, including a woman, were killed when a missile fired by allied warplanes hit houses in a densely populated area of Baghdad, residents said.

One house was destroyed when the missile struck in Al-Azamiyah, residents said.

Casualties had been removed from the area, according to the photographer, who saw piles of rubble.

Baghdad was battered by dozens of explosions from US-led air raids March 23 and early March 24 in the most violent bombing of the city since more than 300 cruise missiles hit it in a "shock and awe" assault March 21 night.