Bush addresses the nation

President George W Bush has addressed the US from the White House, saying that the allies were in the opening stages of what would be a broad and concerted campaign against Saddam.

He said that 35 countries had joined the coalition to bring peace to a troubled world.

The campaign could be longer and more difficult than could have been predicted, he added. The US had no ambition except to remove Saddam and restore the country to its people.

President Bush said he wanted America and all the world to know that every effort would be made to "spare innocent citizens from harm" in Iraq.

He said Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi government had placed troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military, which was a "final atrocity" against his own people.

He added: "Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force and I assure you this will not be a campaign of half measures and we will accept no outcome but victory.

"My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace.

"We will defend our freedom. We will bring freedom to others and we will prevail."

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