"Now that the war has begun, it will be seen through the end," said Blair, according to a text of his remarks to be telecast to Iraqis a day after US Marines occupied downtown Baghdad.

"We will work with you to build the peaceful, prosperous Iraq that you want, and you deserve. This Iraq will not be run by Britain, or by the United States, or by the United Nations. It will be run by you, the people of Iraq," Blair said.

A Downing Street spokesman said the address, plus one by US President George W. Bush, subtitled in Arabic, was being broadcast on the frequency of Iraqi state television at 1200 GMT from a specially-equipped US C-130 Hercules flying over Iraq.

They were to launch a coalition-run television service, Towards Freedom, that is to broadcast five hours a day.

"I am glad to be able to speak to you today, and to tell you that Saddam Hussein's regime is collapsing; that the years of brutality, oppression and fear are coming to an end; that a new and better future beckons for the people of Iraq," Blair said.

"Our aim is to help alleviate immediate humanitarian suffering, and to move as soon as possible to an interim authority run by Iraqis," Blair said.

"This will pave the way for a truly representative Iraqi government, which represents human rights and the rule of law and spends Iraq's wealth not on palaces and WMD (weapons of mass destruction), but on you and the services you need," he said.

Thousands of Iraqis have been "murdered, tortured, brutalized" by Saddam over the years, and millions forced to flee abroad, the prime minister said.

"Saddam Hussein and his regime plundered your nation's wealth. While many of you live in poverty, they have lived lives of luxury. He became one of the richest men in the world; his money stolen from you, the Iraqi people."

"The money from Iraqi oil will be yours; to be used to build prosperity for you and your families," Blair said.

SPACE.WIRE