IT is almost impossible to gauge whether Saddam Hussein truly was broadcasting live at breakfast today. But this was an effective piece of propaganda nevertheless.

He spoke of how the coalition forces "entered our lands and where they penetrated became entangled, desert behind them". Iraqi soldiers were "causing the enemy to suffer and to lose every day".

These messages hit home after a difficult first weekend of the war for British and US forces. After rolling through the desert almost unopposed, they have met with stiff resistance in the towns. Fierce fighting has been reported around the towns of Karbala, Nasiriya and Basra.

The dead bodies of American soldiers and the fearful faces of their comrades captured by Iraqi forces have been beamed out on satellite television. Two British soldiers are missing.

To add to the gloom, tragic accidents have blighted the campaign. Has a euphemism ever been less appropriate than "friendly fire"? Yet it is that which has claimed the lives of two British airmen, shot down by a US Patriot missile as they returned from a successful mission; and ITN reporter Terry Lloyd, whose car was raked with bullets alongside Iraqi vehicles.

With the 19 British and US servicemen who have died in crashes involving three helicopters, the toll of self-inflicted casualties is already high. The unfortunate circumstances of these losses must make them even harder to bear for the families.

The earlier optimism, when it was suggested that the coalition would be in Baghdad within days, has been replaced by a new realism. Although the coalition has massive firepower superiority, this is by no means an assured or easy victory. The Iraqi's guerrilla tactics are causing real pain.

Yet this only makes the Pentagon's strategy more admirable. Defence chiefs have been true to their political masters' promise that every effort would be made to minimise civilian casualties. There has been no carpet bombing. The aerial attacks on Baghdad have largely been targeted at government buildings.

Now we must see whether President Bush can hold his nerve. Americans are rattled. They might soon start to clamour for a massive blitz which would kill thousands of Iraqis without placing their own forces in the firing line.

The world would view such a tactical change as a broken promise. It would act as a recruitment drive for the peace movement which, as the big Menwith Hill demonstration showed, is still visible and active.

Meanwhile, we are glad to report a beacon of hope amid the gloom tonight. The picture of Muslims and Christians praying for peace together at Ripon Cathedral is a moving symbol of what the world must do to recover from these divided times.

Updated: 10:16 Monday, March 24, 2003