This is a victory for all mankind, for the rule of law and for what is right US President George Bush

Top of the 12 demands made on Iraq by is the return of all Allied prisoners of war and thousands of Kuwaiti citizens taken to Iraq.

It is also required to renounce any future claim to Kuwait and pay compensation for injuries it has caused.

Iraq's army, once one of the largest in the world, has been all but destroyed.

The six-week war to free Kuwait from Iraqi occupation culminated in a lightening ground campaign that achieved victory in just 100 hours.

The allies currently hold 80,000 Iraqi PoWs who surrendered in droves in the last few days.

Celebration in Kuwait

Kuwait City rang with the sound of gunshots today celebrating the liberation of the city.

But scenes of joy are overshadowed by black skies polluted by burning Kuwaiti oilfields set alight in a last desperate act by fleeing Iraqi forces.

Many Iraqis interviewed on the streets of Baghdad were relieved their city has seen an end to the constant allied bombardment.

But the media is claiming a victory for Saddam Hussein, with Baghdad Radio stating: "The allies of Satan and its accursed leader have been taught a lesson."

Despite this claim, Iraqi casualties number tens of thousands.

It has emerged that "friendly fire" killed more British troops than the Iraqis did - of 16 British soldiers who died, nine were killed by Americans.

Of 148 Americans who died, 35 were killed by friendly fire.

Iraqi deaths are estimated at 50,000, with 100,000 wounded.

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