US launches air strikes

The US and UK have launched air strikes against

Iraq.

White House spokesman Joe

Lockhart said US military forces

had launched a substantial

military action against Iraq. Military

officials said the attack involved

long-range cruise missiles.

US President Bill Clinton told the American people

he had authorised strikes against military and

security targets in Iraq.

The attack was aimed at Iraq's nuclear, chemical

and biological weapons facilities, Mr Clinton said in

a televised address.

He said it was intended to protect the interests of

the American people as well as the Middle East.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said

the mission, codenamed Desert

Fox, started at 2200GMT.

US Senate Majority Leader Trent

Lott criticised the action even

before it was formally announced.

"I cannot support this military

action in the Persian Gulf at this time," he said.

Anti-aircraft fire was heard in the Iraqi capital

Baghdad at 2149GMT. It came less than a

half-hour after an air raid siren in Baghdad.

A second series of violent explosions was reported

in Baghdad at 2200GMT.

The UN Security Council suspended an

emergency session discussing the Iraqi crisis

after the attack was launched.

The strikes follow a damning report against Iraq by

chief United Nations weapons inspector, Richard

Butler.

It accused Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of

breaking his promise on 14 November to

co-operate fully with weapons monitors.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said the

report was full of falsehoods, and was merely

aimed at justifying military strikes on Baghdad.

As the likelihood of an attack increased during the

day Saddam Hussein urged his people to prepare

for possible military action.

A presidential decree said Iraq had created four

regional military commands "to confront and

destroy any foreign aggression".