DAY 5 OF WAR

Iraq latest: At-a-glance

[All times GMT and approximate]

Monday 24 March 2003

1950: Arab foreign ministers meeting in Egypt condemn what they call the aggression against Iraq and call for the "immediate withdrawal" of US and UK forces from the country.

1900: UK Government orders orders the Jordanian Embassy to expel two Iraqi diplomats, saying their presence in the country is no longer acceptable.

1850: The US confirms that coalition forces destroyed a civilian bus when targeting a bridge on the Iraqi side of the Syrian border on Sunday - Damascus says five Syrians were killed.

1830: Fresh explosions reported south-east of Baghdad.

1810: Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz says the entire Iraqi leadership is "in good shape" and President Saddam Hussein is "in full control of the army and the country".

1615: The UK confirms its forces in Iraq have suffered their first combat loss with the death of a British soldier.

1558: Buses of volunteers reported heading from Syria to Baghdad to join Saddam Hussein's forces.

1533: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says the coalition objective is "to reach Baghdad as swiftly as possible thus bringing the end of the regime closer".

1510: The United States has "credible evidence that Russian companies have provided assistance and prohibited hardware to the Iraqi regime," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says.

1425: About 3,000 Iraqis have been taken prisoners so far, says General Tommy Franks.

1420: US says only one Apache helicopter has been downed, the rest - between 30 and 40 that took part in the action - have returned.

1404: The Commander of US forces General Tommy Franks tells a news conference that coalition progress in attaining its objectives had been "rapid", at times "dramatic".

1313: Coalition forces launch fresh offensive in Nasiriya.

1115: UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon says the latest Iraqi television broadcast of Saddam Hussein was not live.

0955: US defence official confirms an Apache helicopter has come down in Iraq.

0910: Iraqi television broadcasts pictures of what it says is a US helicopter shot down in Karbala, south of Baghdad.

0825: The official Syrian news agency says five Syrian civilians were killed by an American missile near the Iraqi border.

0805: Saddam Hussein promises "victory is near" in a speech broadcast on Iraqi television.

0658: Iraqi television says Saddam Hussein will make an "important and historic" speech to the nation soon.

0545: Explosions are heard amid reports of the bombardment of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

0415: Philippines President Gloria Arroyo announces expulsion of one Iraqi diplomat and one member of staff at the embassy.

0250: UK Ministry of Defence says two British troops are missing in southern Iraq after their vehicles came under attack.

0220: Australian defence officials say special forces have destroyed a missile command bunker deep in Iraqi territory.

0205: A US TV reporter says US helicopters are attacking Iraqi Republican Guard positions near the city of Karbala south of Baghdad.

0120: US military say they are investigating "sites of potential interest" following reports of US troops reaching a chemical plant south of Baghdad.

0005: Huge explosions reported in central Baghdad.