"We believe resistance has been led by foreign suicide bombers," Hoon told a press briefing on day 26 of the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein and rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

On Sunday, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld alleged that Syrian nationals had clashed with US troops in Baghdad after entering Iraq by the busload. Many were killed or taken prisoner, he added.

Hoon said: "We're obviously very disturbed about the number of foreign fighters that we are locating in Iraq."

Asked if the war could be declared over, he replied: "It will not be over until those final pockets of resistance are resolved."

SPACE.WIRE