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News Stories - Saddam's capture

This is a historic turning point for modern Iraq. Saddam Hussein's capture marks a huge morale boost for US forces and a serious blow to Ba'athist elements engaged in armed resistance against them. It provides a significant political boost for President George Bush and for the British Prime Minister Tony Blair who were both coming under ever stronger criticism for launching their invasion of Iraq as the casualty toll mounted. But above all the capture of Saddam Hussein marks a huge opportunity for the Iraqi people.

This is the definitive end of the Ba'athist regime. There can be no succession. Saddam Hussein is in custody and his two sons who were major props to his regime are both dead. This does not mean that armed resistance to the Americans and their allies will end. This after all derives from a number of factors; political; nationalist, Islamic and criminal. One of Saddam Hussein's last acts in power was to empty the prisons. But the arrest of the former Iraqi ruler creates a dramatic shift in the psychological climate. Ordinary Iraqis have already been celebrating in the streets. Jonathan Marks, BBC Defence Correspondent

- vocabulary:

turning point: time when something changes
Ba'athist elements engaged in armed resistance: supporters of the previous government who are fighting

the casualty toll mounted: the number of people killed or injured got bigger

the definitive end: the final, absolute end
succession: the continuing of the previous government
in custody: in prison
props: supports

derives from a number of factors: is because of different reasons

a dramatic shift: a big change
psychological climate: the way that people think