AN Iraqi medic based in Chorley this week spoke exclusively to The Citizen about his fears for his family in Baghdad.

The man, who has asked not be identified for family reasons, has up to 40 direct relatives living in the Iraqi capital.

"We are in a situation where there is a war, there is street fighting and everybody is at risk," said the man, who works for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

"I wish I could be there to really know they are safe," he said. "I have thirty-five to forty people who are direct relatives of mine right in the centre of Baghdad where this is happening.

"You have to pray for them."

The man, who has dual nationality -- Iraqi and British -- graduated from Baghdad University and came to this country for postgraduate study and training. He has worked for Chorley and Preston hospitals for several years.

He said he lost all contact with his family when the city was bombed.

"Since a week last Friday, the telecommunications have been bombed and we haven't heard anything from there, so we are very concerned," he said.

The worried father claimed the Iraqi people were truly caught up in the middle of the conflict.

"Nobody trusts them from either side, neither the Iraqi regime nor the Allies because of the way the war is being conducted.

"And the way the Iraqi regime is treating civilians, they are in an awful situation."

He said the Iraqi people in general were opposed to the Saddam regime and would be glad to see the back of it.

"This is what everybody says. I don't think you will find any Iraqi who thinks Saddam is good. We have been at war for about thirty years now. I don't think there will be any argument from anybody about that."

And he praised both work colleagues and members of the Chorley and Preston communities for the support they have given him.

"They are absolutely wonderful. I can't really praise them enough, they are so wonderful and supportive.

"At work I'm keeping a low profile and not talking about it. When people talk about it I blank out the subject and try to talk about something else.

"The more you talk about it, the more upset you become."

He said he hoped to go out there when things settle down again.

And he concluded: "I hope there will be a good future for the people who are living there and have been suffering for so long.

"I hope there will be some light at the end of a very dark tunnel.