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Iraq war has begun, Bush to speak - White House
( 2003-03-20 10:40 ) (9 )

War on Iraq has begun, and US President George W. Bush will address the American people later on Wednesday night, the White House said.

"The opening stages of the disarmament of the Iraqi regime have begun," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. He said Bush would speak at 10:15 p.m. EST (0315 GMT on Thursday).

A handful of explosions rocked Baghdad at dawn on Thursday as jets roared overhead, Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries opened up and air raid sirens sounded.

Reuters correspondent Nadim Ladki, reporting from the city centre, said the blasts appeared to come from the southern suburbs. He heard two or three explosions, followed by a similar number at about 5:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), an hour and a half after a US deadline for war on Saddam Hussein had passed.

France and Germany said it was illegal for the Bush administration to depose Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Russia said there was no proof Iraq posed a threat to the United States.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the United States it was responsible for protecting Iraqi civilians in war but said the United Nations should get ready to help soon.