"It will not be an operation that resembles the battle of Stalingrad," he said, referring to the battle in which 250,000 German soldiers were killed after which the Russian city was completely destroyed.

Aziz said a month ago Iraq could become "another Stalingrad for US and British aggressors."

Piatas said at a joint news conference with the head of the EU's military committee, General Gustave Haeggland, Iraq's inability to defend Baghdad airport showed the US-led forces were having effect.

"We see already the results after 15 days of bombing of the command centres of the Iraqi troops," he said.

"If the elite soldiers are not able to defend Baghdad airport that means the strikes have been efficient," he said.

"We have to wait for the vice to tighten (around Baghdad) and we will then see a diversity of special operations, precise surgically carried out operations, with a view to taking the control of decisive places," he said.

WAR.WIRE