Blair warns Saddam: We'll attack again
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain was ready to mount further air strikes against Iraq, despite widespread international condemnation of the Anglo-US attack.
Mr Blair insisted the strikes had been justified in the face of increased Iraqi air defence activity against British and American jets patrolling the no-fly zones.
He said it had been a "limited operation" with the sole purpose of protecting the lives of the allied aircrews.
"We had to respond in order to reduce the chances of one of his missiles downing a British plane. Operations such as the one last night would not be needed if Saddam stopped attacking us," Mr Blair said.
"But as long as he does, I will continue to take the steps necessary to protect our forces and to prevent Saddam from once again wreaking havoc, suffering and death."
The air strikes against Iraq, the biggest since Operation Desert Fox more than two years ago, were strongly condemned by Russia and China, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The Russian foreign ministry denounced what it said had been an "unprovoked action" by Britain and the US which had resulted in civilian casualties.
France also expressed concern at the attacks which, it said, would lead to "damaging tensions". Arab League secretary-general Esmat Abdel Meguid denounced the strikes as an "unwarranted aggression" which would worsen the plight of the Iraqi people.
Both the British Ministry of Defence and the Pentagon said that initial evidence suggested that all the missiles fired in the raids had hit their targets which were in areas unoccupied by civilians.
However, the official Iraqi news agency said that two people - a man and a woman - had been killed and 20 injured. State-run television showed pictures of the wounded, including children with bandaged legs and feet.
