Dubai: Iraq retaliated to US cruise missiles by firing Scud missiles at American
troops in Northern Kuwait.
A total of six Scud missiles were fired by Iraq in Northern Kuwait, two of which
were intercepted by Patriot missiles, Kuwait's Defence ministry said. None of the
missiles caused injuries or damages.
In Baghdad, Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al Sahhaf said that one
civilian was killed and several others wounded when US launched the attack at dawn
95 minutes after the expiry of the deadline President George W Bush gave to Saddam
Hussein and his two sons to leave the country or face war.
Sahhaf said the civilian was killed near Rotba crossing on the Jordanian border
while other casualties were caused when a building used by Iraqi State Television in
Al-Anbar province was hit.
In Baghdad, he said the strikes were aimed at the Saura suburb, West of the city.
In a brief televised address after US warplanes thundered in Baghdad, pounding key
military targets, Bush said, "On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking
selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to
wage war."
A defiant Saddam accused the US of committing the "shameful crime" and urged his
countrymen to "draw your swords" and "defeat despicable infidel enemies".
Bush said that Saddam Hussein has placed Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian
areas in an attempt to use innocent men, women and children as shields for the
Army.
Hours after the opening strikes, Saddam Hussein, in a nationally-televised address,
said, "We shall resist the invaders and God willing we will frustrate them."
PTI
