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US missiles target Saddam
Edited for lengthUS President George W Bush has launched war on Baghdad, vowing to "disarm Iraq and to free its people". Mr Bush delivered a live television address shortly after explosions rocked the capital at 0534 local time (0234 GMT), signalling the start of the US-led campaign to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Speaking from the Oval Office, President Bush said American and coalition forces were in the "early stages of military operations" and had struck "targets of military importance". He promised a "broad and concerted campaign" and said the US would prevail. But, he warned, the campaign could be "longer and more difficult than some predict". US military sources have told the BBC that five key members of the Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein, were targeted in the first attacks. It is not known whether the targets were hit and what damage might have been caused. But shortly before Baghdad air raid sirens sounded the all clear for a second time at 0600 GMT, Iraqi TV broadcast what it said was a live speech by Saddam Hussein. "I don't need to remind you what you should do to defend our country," he said. "Let the unbelievers go to hell... you will be victorious, Iraqi people." Saddam Hussein is known to have several body doubles, but correspondents familiar with the Iraqi leader say they believe it to be him. BBC Defence Correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the attack that was carried out was on a much smaller scale than had been expected for the opening of the conflict, and it had probably been mounted at short notice when US military planners spotted a good opportunistic target. F-117s were probably already in the air, loitering beyond the air defences of central Iraq, ready to move in if required. As dawn broke in Baghdad, anti-aircraft artillery peppered the sky as deep, heavy thuds were heard in the outskirts of the city. The same target, in the east, is reported to have been hit three or four times. Republic of Iraq Radio in Baghdad said that "the evil ones, the enemies of God, the homeland and humanity, have committed the stupidity of aggression against our homeland and people". Reports quoting American military officials said planes had struck "targets of opportunity" which were thought to be occupied by members of the Iraqi leadership. US officials said 2000-pound precision-guided bombs were fired from F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter-bombers. More than 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles were also fired from six US Navy vessels, including two submarines, stationed in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. A Pentagon official said the first strikes were "a limited thing — it ain't A-Day," referring to the planned massive air campaign. At about the same time as the strikes began, the US military appeared to take over a frequency of Iraqi radio with an Arabic-speaking presenter announcing: "This is the day we have been waiting for." The attack began after President Bush's 0100 GMT deadline for Saddam Hussein to go into exile or face war expired. As the deadline approached, US-led combat troops in the Gulf — numbering about 150,000 — took up battle positions for an imminent invasion of Iraq. A British military spokesman in Kuwait says no order has yet been given to the US and British troops who are waiting on the Iraqi border. With battle looming the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said his thoughts were with the ordinary people of Iraq as they faced the "disaster of war". He warned the US and UK that "under international law, the responsibility for protecting civilians in conflict falls on the belligerents". Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-20 |
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