British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said on Sunday that coalition forces advancing on the Iraqi capital Baghdad would face the risk of attack by chemical and biological weapons.
"We've known all along that Saddam Hussein has issued orders to defend Baghdad," Hoon told the BBC television. "We do not know what kind of trip wires might be tripped once we get closer to Baghdad." He might then decide to use chemical, biological weapons. "Clearly, we do not want to risk more British lives, more coalition forces," Hoon said. "But equally, we will have to make judgments at the time as to the best way of liberating Baghdad from the regime," he said.
As US military forces advanced toward Baghdad on Sunday, Hoon said the coalition's assault on the city could involve street fighting.
Both Britain and the United States have ground forces trained for that kind of warfare, but they must wait and see what kind of resistance Saddam and his military mount, Hoon said.
"Baghdad will have to be liberated,” Hoon said, adding that US and British ground forces would consider all their options when they reach the capital.
Hoon, who declined to say whether coalition forces would reach Baghdad by Tuesday, said US armored forces were "making rapid progress" northwards.
Reports said US forces surged across Iraq's deserts and rivers on Sunday to reach positions within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of Baghdad.
As Iraq braced for the fourth consecutive day of US-led military attack, two heavily armed US B-52 bombers took off on Sunday from the British RAF Fair ford base for possible air raids on Baghdad.
Source: Xinhua
Editor: Zhao Xuan
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