Iraqi TV rallies war effort

Iraq's television stations transmit the official line

As US-led forces march on Baghdad, BBC Monitoring examines the programming transmitted on Iraq's satellite television channel, whose content often mirrors Iraq's main national television channel.

The following is a snapshot of what the satellite TV station carried on the morning of Tuesday 25 March. The times are all local Iraqi times (GMT+3).

0305 Iraqis in Baghdad interviewed on Saddam Hussein's speech the previous day, in which he promised victory. They say are ready to defend Saddam Hussein and pray that God will protect Iraq.

0358 Rebroadcast of Saddam Hussein's speech.

0547 Studio interviews with Baghdad professors on Saddam Hussein's speech. They contrast Iraq's treatment of POWs with the "inhumane" United States treatment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

0640 Report on a US Apache helicopter said to have been shot down by an Iraqi peasant. Announcer says there are already verses praising the farmer, who "harvests both rice and Apaches".

0655 Phone-in programme. The announcer receives calls said to be live from Arab countries, voicing support for Iraq. He invites further contributions.

0735 Studio interview with a Baghdad professor on "panic" among US-led troops caused by Iraqi resistance. He says nothing in the Geneva Conventions bans broadcasting pictures of prisoners.

0805 Communiqué No. 5 of the Iraqi Armed Forces Command, read by a military spokesman, first broadcast the previous day. It says Iraqi forces inflicted losses on enemy forces in Al-Faw and Al-Najaf.

0844 The TV shows what it calls pieces of US missiles downed by Iraqis. It also features interviews with Iraqi soldiers expressing their readiness to confront "the enemies".

0903 Interviews with wounded Iraqis in Al-Yarmuk Hospital.

0916 Interviews with Iraqis who condemn US "aggression" and express support for President Saddam Hussein.

0942 Iraqi demonstrators shown carrying Saddam Hussein's pictures and Iraqi flags. Many are brandishing weapons.

Iraqi poets praise Saddam Hussein

1028 Poem hailing Baghdad and the Iraqi people.

1100 News featuring anti-war demonstrations abroad, and the Arab League resolution in Cairo condemning the US-led action. Iraq's foreign minister says the resolution reiterated Arab solidarity with Iraq.

1121 Patriotic song with the words: "Where are the millions?... Where is Arab anger?... Where is Arab blood?"

1128 Woman dressed in a military uniform recites poem in praise of Saddam Hussein.

1132 Patriotic song in praise of Saddam Hussein. Accompanying footage shows Iraqis carrying rifles and pictures of the Iraqi president.

1138 Interviews with academics saying all Iraqis are united behind their leadership in the face of this "foreign invasion".

1206 News interrupted by call to prayer.

1325 Press review highlighting Saddam's meetings with officials.

1353 Report on the "crime" of bombing a residential district in Baghdad. Includes footage of victims' funeral. Mourners chant slogans glorifying "martyrs".

1404 News conference by Iraqi Vice-President Ramadan, who says the Arab foreign ministers' statement is "not enough".

1430 Patriotic song urging Arabs to resist "aggression".

1535 Announcer-read statement by Saddam to Iraqi tribes, urging them to step up resistance.

1608 Rebroadcast of Ramadan news conference, during which captions are screened saying ten enemy tanks were destroyed two US soldiers killed.

1706 Station unobserved throughout Europe and the Middle East. Back at 1850.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.