Blair and Bush speak to Iraq

A US warplane today began broadcasting messages from Tony Blair and George Bush to the Iraqi people.

The new TV service will broadcast from a US C130 warplane which has been converted into a flying radio and TV studio. Called Towards Freedom, the service will transmit on domestic Iraqi channels for up to five hours a day.

In his first broadcast, subtitled in Arabic, Mr Blair said: "I am glad to be able to tell you that Saddam Hussein's regime is collapsing; that the years of brutality, oppression and fear are coming to an end." He also promised that the money from the country's oil "will be yours, to be used to build prosperity for you and your families."

Jack Straw today delivered a stiff warning to neighbouring Syria, under suspicion of offering aid to members of the Saddam regime.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs: "We look to Syria to end any and all assistance to the Iraqi regime and to co-operate fully with the people of Iraq and the coalition forces."