"It's always gone to the last day of the season before, we've always been in there fighting and haven't been adrift as badly as we are now, " he said.

BBC: Survival is unlikely - Finnigan

We all want those risks to be minimised, we all want this conflict to last as little time as possible but equally we have to recognise, as I think Paddy did, that this is a tough enemy, they are determined, they've been fighting for a long time, we have to recognise that there are risks involved in that process.

BBC: News | BREAKFAST WITH FROST | Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon

In point of fact, what we've been hearing is explosions intermittently throughout the day and heavy fighting again last night.

CNN: Rodgers: U.S. Army says Baghdad is encircled