World News 24-12-2003 Review of 2003: Iraq who: Saddam Hussein what: Driven into a hole in the ground by shock and awe coalition invasion - WTPS Review of 2003 when: 2003 snippet: The war in Iraq began on March 20th following lengthy wrangling at the UN which saw a bitter split between the supporters - notably Britain and America - and opponents Russia, France and Germany. Disagreement remains over whether Saddam Hussein was in breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and weapons inspector Hans Blix begged for more time to hunt for the weapons of mass destruction which Saddam repeatedly claimed he did not have. Following "shock and awe" strikes on Baghdad, US troops swept into the capital almost unopposed and Iraq was liberated from its dictator. Major hostilities ended on May 1st. US troops were issued with playing cards featuring the names and photographs of the 55 most wanted Iraqi suspects and Ace of Spades Saddam Hussein was captured in his "spider hole" on December 13th; but that has not stopped continuing guerilla attacks from his supporters. More than 200 Americans have been killed in Iraq since May, 79 in November alone. No conclusive evidence of WMDs has been found and the former UN weapons inspector appointed by the CIA to head the Iraq Survey Group is reportedly quitting the job in frustration after a $300million investigation found only a single vial containing a possible strain of biological agent. Of the 150,000-strong coalition force, 550 had been killed and 2,679 wounded either in combat or otherwise at time of publishing. Among the many Iraqi victims of the conflict was Shi`ite cleric, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr al-Hakim, whose body was ripped apart by a bomb in Najaf, outside the country`s holiest shrine, which killed at least 125 other people in August. [... more]

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