The Iraqi anti-aircraft fire is pitifully inadequate to the task of combating these high-tech British... military jets. In 10 years, not a single scratch has been imposed by any Iraqi anti-aircraft fire on a single British or American aeroplane

British MP George Galloway

At the same time, Israel and the United States are holding what they say are previously-planned joint missile tests.

France, Turkey, Russia, China and a host of Arab countries criticised the raids, which the US and the UK insist were necessary to limit a dramatic increase in Iraqi attacks on their pilots patrolling northern and southern no fly zones.

A statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attacks as "counter-productive for the process of a political settlement".

UN appeal

Baghdad said two people were killed in the attacks, and has once again demanded an end to Western patrols of its airspace.

It wants the United Nations to prevent a repeat of the bombings, and has vowed to continue shooting at the warplanes.

Demonstrations in India in support of Iraq

It has also warned that the bombing has damaged the atmosphere ahead of key talks with the UN aimed at trying to resolve the long-running dispute over economic sanctions and alleged weapons of mass destruction.

The Iraqi parliament appealed to Arab people to demonstrate their anger at the air raids when US Secretary of State Colin Powell starts his first Middle East tour.

Iraqi National Assembly speaker Saadoun Hammadi said in letters to Arab parliaments: "Let February 24 be a day to protest a visit by Colin Powell to a number of Arab capitals... and express, by all means, anger at the crimes committed against the Iraqi and Palestinian peoples."

'Reckless and unjustified'

Thousands of people turned out to demonstrate in Baghdad on Monday.

They sang and chanted, calling for revenge against Britain and America, dancing Bedouin dances and waving guns in the air.

The British Labour MP George Galloway added his voice to the criticism.

During a visit to Baghdad hospital, he called the air strikes reckless and unjustified.

Thousands of people turned out to demonstrate on Monday.

They sang and chanted, calling for revenge against Britain and America, dancing Bedouin dances and waving guns in the air.

Those said to have been injured in the attack received a visit from Mr Galloway. They included women and children with shrapnel wounds.

Mr Galloway, an outspoken anti-sanctions campaigner, said the air strikes were a reckless act that would inflame anti-Western passions in the volatile region.

He also dismissed claims that the US and British pilots were defending themselves from Iraqi fire.

"The Iraqi anti-aircraft fire is pitifully inadequate to the task of combating these high-tech British... military jets. In 10 years, not a single scratch has been imposed by any Iraqi anti-aircraft fire on a single British or American aeroplane," Mr Galloway said.

The US and Britain said Baghdad had upgraded its air defences.

It said there were 22 Iraqi attacks against US or British aircraft last month - more than during the whole of 2000.