WEDNESDAY was a day we will all remember for years to come. The toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in the centre of Baghdad symbolises the collapse of this brutal regime.

I was in Madrid to see my Spanish counterpart, Ana Palacio, when the live TV pictures came through -- appropriate, given the strong support Spain has offered the coalition.

Some hours earlier, as our eight-seater plane was taxi-ing for take-off to Madrid, I had received text messages telling me that there were scenes of jubilation on the streets of Baghdad. It was only when I saw the pictures myself that I believed it.

I had travelled to Spain from Paris where I had met another of my fellow European counterparts, Dominique de Villepin.

For all our differences over military action, Dominique is, indeed, "a good friend", and over breakfast we discussed post-conflict Iraq issues.

Both of us have strong views and a strong sense of history, and I came away from the Quai optimistic that we can work together on this vital task.

On Thursday, I made a statement in the House of Commons to keep MPs informed of events, and to tell them of our determination to help provide humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq, and to ensure that, as soon as possible, they will be provided with the means to govern themselves.

The mood in the House was a mixture of relief that the regime had crumbled and pride in the bravery and professionalism of our armed services in Iraq -- not only in battle but in carrying out much-needed humanitarian work in Basra and elsewhere in the south of the country.

One Tory MP suggested the Prime Minister and I took a few days off after working through the last hectic weeks and months.

It was nice of him to consider my well-being, and I hope to get a break soon. But there is still a great deal of work to do.

The Iraqi people have lived under brutal oppression for almost a quarter of a century. Change cannot come soon enough. But, inevitably, the scars of dictatorship will take a long time to heal, and the transition to representative government will, at times, be difficult and painful.

We have seen looting and lawlessness on the streets of Iraqi cities as desperate people grasp exploit the first opportunities of freedom.

But this is the start of a new chapter for the people of Iraq, and we will be there to help restore their country and fulfil its great potential.