MP Gives Cautious Welcome To News From Baghdad

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Apr 2003

Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, has issued a cautious welcome to the news that Saddam Hussein's régime appears to be crumbling in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

"If it does turn out that Saddam Hussein's grip on power has been removed, this is good news for the people of Iraq." said Mr Lamb, a former International Development spokesman for the Liberal Democrats. "However, the military campaign against his Ba'ath Party régime will not be over until the whole of Iraq is under coalition control.

"Our concern in the immediate aftermath of any régime collapse in Baghdad must be to get aid to the city's overwhelmed hospitals. Law and order must be maintained, and the coalition must move as quickly as possible into the role of peacekeepers, while also maximising the delivery of humanitarian aid."

"Final proof of the success of this military campaign will only come in the much longer term."