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US, British forces attack Iraq

American and British forces bombarded Iraq early today, allegedly retaliating against President Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with United Nations regulations.

The attacks were reportedly made on key military units and places said to be manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.

At least two persons were killed and 30 injured, a doctor said. The fifty-odd Indians in Iraq are safe, the Indian government has announced.

The Iraqi president urged Iraqis to "fight the enemies of god, enemies of the nation, enemies of humanity," admitting that "several targets" were hit.

In a radio broadcast, Saddam said the attackers did not "come to meet you face to face" and depended on a long technological arm, which was not a measure of bravery.

US President Bill Clinton said he ordered air strikes on military and security targets after reading the latest UN reports about Iraq's alleged obstruction of the UN special commission, which is responsible for eliminating the country's weapons of mass destruction.

But some missiles reportedly hit civilian areas too.

Dr Hazim el-Nasri, head of the Aliyarmouk hospital, said two people were killed and more than 30 injured, suffering mostly burns in the face, hands and legs.

Air-raid sirens broke the night silence and anti-aircraft guns opened fire over Baghdad just before Washington and London announced the air strikes.

The explosions continued into the pre-dawn hours, stopping briefly before the morning prayers.

Unlike previous attacks by the Western alliance on Baghdad, there was no blackout this time. The streets of Baghdad were nearly empty.

"Time-on-target was 0505 hours (2200 GMT)," a senior military officer said. That was Washington time, or 0105 Baghdad time.

The official said the attack involved a series of cruise missile strikes against large numbers of military targets and sites used to bolster Iraq's capability to produce weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological weapons.

Military officials said the attack would last up to four days.

Clinton said he acted "to protect the national interest of the United States" and Iraq's neighbours in West Asia. "Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbours with nuclear weapons, poison gas or biological weapons," he said.

But Senate majority leader Trent Lott criticised the military action even before it was formally announced.

The house was scheduled to begin debate on four articles of impeachment against Clinton today, with votes likely tomorrow.

House leaders are now discussing plans to postpone impeachment votes in the event of air strikes.

But the top two Democrats in Congress voiced support for the attack. "Saddam Hussein should make no mistake that despite domestic political differences in the United States, the American people and Congress stand firmly behind the defence of our nation's vital interests," Senate minority leader Tom Daschle and House of Representatives minority leader Richard Gephardt said in a statement.

Meanwhile, India today deplored the joint air strikes and called for an immediate halt to the action and resumption of diplomatic efforts under UN auspices to resolve the crisis.

The use of force will be counter-productive. The issue needs to be resolved diplomatically through peaceful means and dialogue, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in the Lok Sabha.

The statement was read out in the Rajya Sabha by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Singh also said 13 Indian families had left Baghdad for Amman, Jordan, by road after the air strikes on Baghdad. He said the government had made adequate arrangements for other Indians also to leave Iraq. There are 50 Indians in Iraq and they are all safe.

Air-India and Indian Airlines flights to destinations in the Gulf are reportedly unaffected by the attack. Both airlines are maintaining their normal schedules since they operate no services to Baghdad and don't overfly Iraq.

But Air-India has opened a control room in Dubai to monitor the situation.

UNI

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