British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon on Friday told BBC television that retreating Iraqi soldiers may have set fire to as many as 30 oil wells in the south of the country.

However, he also said that the damage may not be as much as feared as the country has hundreds of oil wells in that region and many of these may have been left intact.

He also said that soldiers loyal to President Saddam Hussein are putting up a fight against British troops in some parts of southern Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iraq has claimed that at least 37 civilians were injured in the overnight missile attack on Baghdad.

The official news agency INA said that two government buildings, including one of the planning ministry, had been hit.