Iraq war is likely over once Tikrit falls: British army

AS-SALIYAH, Qatar (AFP) Apr 14, 2003
Once Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit falls to US forces the war in Iraq will likely have finished, a British army spokesman told AFP Monday.

"We have very good hopes, we are almost there," said Group Captain Al Lockwood at US Central Command here.

"As far as I am aware, Tikrit is the only pocket of resistance ... and so there is a very good chance that once Tikrit has fallen the war will have finished," he said.

US armoured vehicles on Monday controlled the centre of Tikrit, Saddam's last stronghold, maintaining calm in the key northern city, an AFP correspondent reported.

But US officers at Centcom said US forces were still meeting some resistance there and it was too early to say that American forces controlled the whole city.

SPACE.WIRE