Anguish of families and our politicians

And many Gwent families whose loved ones are serving in the Gulf face a desperate wait for news.

Islwyn MP Don Touhig said: "I have only just heard the news, and this is obviously the start of the campaign - the campaign which nobody wanted. Our thoughts are with the troops and their families and, of course, the people of Iraq who have gone through a lot of hardship, and will soon be facing an even more difficult time. I hope it's as short as possible with the minimum of casualties."

And Newport West MP Paul Flynn - one of the critics of the government's stance - said the conflict was between the world's greatest superpower and a third world country. "We pray that will be over swiftly and safely for our soldiers. I still remain sorry that we are in this situation," he said.

"I've been in touch with several Newport families over the last few weeks who have sons and daughters in the Gulf and they must be very anxious. Yesterday at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party our main hope was the stories about any chemical or biological weapons being used are untrue."

The bishops of the Church in Wales today called for prayer and reflection. They have written to all the clerics of the Church in Wales, requesting church buildings are open for prayer, lighting of candles and vigils for the war.

The bishops - among them the Right Rev Dominic Walker, Bishop of Monmouth - say in their letter: "We feel that the best way to respond - now that hostilities have commenced - is through prayers for peace."

Families of Gwent servicemen and women have also told of their fears for loved ones. Father-of-two Kelvin Morgan, 31, is a leading radio operator in the Royal Navy, handling communications on the bridge of HMS Ark Royal. The ship's crew tracked the outbound US missiles on radar - watching television news to see where they would land. His wife Helen, 29, and daughters Teigan, two, and Cariad, one, live in Pontypool near his family.

And Kelvin's mother, Marilyn Browne, of Pontypool, said: "I am so upset this morning that it's had to come to this. I've got no say in what he does but I've cushioned my grandchildren from it.

"He gave the impression he wanted to come home. The build-up has been horrendous over the last few weeks but I think he just wants to come home. "And as a family we are all upset for the Iraqi people. Those poor mothers and children have got nowhere to hide."

Gill Robinson, of Abersychan, is the mother of 25-year-old Royal Marine commando Lee Baynham. She said: "I'm very worried and very proud this morning and just glued to the telly. People say, 'I wouldn't watch it if my son was out there' but I have to. "I want to know what's happening. I thought war was inevitable but I can't honestly say whether I agree with it or not.

"I don't think he wanted to be there at the moment, but this is what he's trained for." John Minnion, leader of the Newport Stop the War Coalition, said he was "depressed but not surprised" at the attacks.

The coalition is holding a mass vigil tonight outside the cenotaph in Newport. Mr Minnion said: "We expect tonight's vigil to be the biggest we've had. We are also taking coaches to London on Saturday for the peace rally."

Bassaleg School pupils were staging a protest today, with a planned sit-in. AM for Newport East John Griffiths joined Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats in speaking out against the war during an Assembly debate yesterday.

The debate was brought forward from next Tuesday. Mr Griffiths said: "War is not justified. No case has been established that Iraq poses an immediate threat from weapons of mass destruction and there is little evidence of links with al- Qa'eda."

Bedwas councillor Ray Davies, vice-chairman of CND Cymru, today condemned the attack.

"The South Wales coalition are calling on every man woman and child to add their voices to the protests against the war - in vigils, non-violent direct actions, lobbying their MP, and so on."

PICTURED: Newport East AM John Griffiths says the war is not justified.