Iraq Bombings: How the air offensive unfolded
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Your support makes all the difference.Wednesday, 9.50pm (GMT): Anti-aircraft fire starts in Baghdad.
10.00: The US confirms 100 missiles have been launched.
10.20: Prime Minister Tony Blair says there is "no alternative" to the attack.
11.00: Sixty people protest in Downing Street.
11.15: The Pentagon briefs US Defense Secretary William Cohen and Joint Chief of Staff General Hugh Shelton. The military build-up is to increase.
11.30: More anti-aircraft fire in Baghdad.
11.50: France expresses "regret" that the Iraqi authorities have not co-operated with the weapons inspectors. Russia and China are also critical.
12.00: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says the fight is not against the Iraqi people. She drops strong hints to the Iraqi opposition to take control.
Yesterday 12.20am: Sandy Berger, US National Security Adviser, justifies the attack. There are reports of strikes near one of President Saddam Hussein's palaces.
1.40: In New York, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says the attack is "a sad day for the world"
1.45: President Saddam urges Iraq to "resist and fight the enemies of God."
2.10: The Ministry of Information in Baghdad says a missile hit a water facility in a residential area injuring four people and causing a large crater.
3.20: An Iraqi doctor says 45 dead, 200 casualties.
8:51: Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov calls the air strikes "outrageous".
8:56: Air strikes against Iraq will not end today, according to Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.10:20: Angry Palestinians burn the US flag and denounce President Bill Clinton for attacking Iraq.
11:44: Baghdad radio says the home of one of President Saddam's daughters was hit.
11:56: Iran protests over a stray missile that crashed into Khorramshahr a city near its border with Iraq.
12:08pm: Mr Cohen says preliminary reports showed a "good measure
of success" in hitting Iraqi targets.
12:15: President Saddamvisits some of the sites hit by US missiles in his first public appearance since the strikes began.
3:11: Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Sahaf says US attacks caused heavy casualties among the civilian population.
3:43: Mr Blair says British Tornado warplanes were in action over Iraq.
4:13: The Pentagon says "200-plus" Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the first wave of strikes and that "they have plans for 300-plus more to go."
5:33: US Air Force B-52 bombers and Navy attack jets begin a second round of cruise missile and bombing raids against targets in Iraq.
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