In it, Bush will announce that "at this moment, the regime of Saddam Hussein has been removed from power," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to excerpts cited by the official, Bush also declares in the speech that "a long period of cruelty is ending.

"The government of Iraq and the future of your country will soon belong to you. You deserve better than tyranny and corruption and torture chambers. You deserve to live as free people. And I assure every citizen of Iraq, your nation will soon be free."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will also deliver a speech during the broadcast, the official said, adding Bush's message was recorded in Northern Ireland on Tuesday during a summit with Blair.

The message will be aired from Baghdad and will have Arabic subtitles, according to the official.

World leaders have cautiously welcomed the fall of Baghdad to US forces as mystery swirled around Saddam's fate, but officials in Washington warned victory was not yet in hand as scattered battles with Iraqi loyalists continued to rage on in the capital.

The dramatic fall of Baghdad -- symbolized by the toppling of a giant statue of Saddam in the center of the city Wednesday -- capped a blistering three-week US-British military offensive to wrest power from Saddam.

SPACE.WIRE