A British woman peace protester who is in Baghdad has spoken by phone about living with the daily coalitian onslaught.

Uzma Bashir told how coalitian 'precision bombing' had led to many civilian deaths - and her family told of their torment as they worried if she would survive the devastation.

"Some houses were hit just behind a hospital and doctors' quarters were also obliterated. They were bombed to bits and 12 people died. We went to the hospital to visit the injured people and it really brought it home to me.

"There was a little ten-year-old girl with shrapnel wounds and she just smiled at me. I was amazed but that is what the people are like. They have been through so much but they just get on with things."

She said the worst thing was seeing a heavily pregnant woman with arms and legs completely burned.

"I held her hand and we prayed together and both of us were crying so much. I found coping with that very difficult."

Uzma, who runs a children's nursery in Bradford and appeared on the television show Survivor! said the impact of reality was quite different to watching TV news.

"It has been pretty hairy out here with the heavy bombing during the night and even bombing during the day."

Uzma is with about 200 other 'human shields' and has been in the Iraqi capital since before the war started. "I have found Iraq to be a nation of highly educated, generous and determined people."

She added that the human shields were being joined by other volunteers.

"Seven Japanese people walked into our office and said they wanted to join the war protest. There are many of us in total and we are here for the duration. I spoke to my brother and I was horrified at what he told me is being said on the news. The situation is just not like that."

Since the first week of the war Uzma's family became very concerned for her safety and have heard nothing further from her.

Sister, Ruby Durrani of Leeds, said, "We have been trying to get through but the lines are dead.

"She told us that she would try to call us via the internet, but that is all we know. It is just a case of waiting and hoping now."

Despite the increasing number of bombs hitting the Iraqi capital, reports of civilian casualties and the fears Uzma's family believe she will refuse to leave her post. Mrs Durrani said, "Last time I spoke to her she said that she would not leave, even if things got bad.

"We asked her to come out but it is something that she needs to do, so she was to stay there."