U.S. officials said the last traces of command and control of Iraqi forces have dissipated. They said representatives of the regime have simply disappeared.

There was no presence of the Saddam regime in Baghdad on Wednesday. Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Sahaf failed to give his daily briefing and employees of his ministry were gone.

Officials said Iraq's military and Saddam's militias continue to resist in Baghdad, Mosul and Tikrit. But they said the activities of Saddam's forces are completely disorganized.

The Iraqi opposition said leaders of the ruling Baath Party fled from Baghdad and other cities for the Syrian border. The opposition said several regime leaders have been arrested while trying to escape the Iraqi capital.

The pro-U.S. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said Saddam's aides have appealed to Syria for political asylum. PUK television did not provide details.