Iraq's Saddam says US faces defeat in invasion
( 2003-01-23 10:52 ) (7 )

President Saddam Hussein raised the spectre of street-to-street fighting in Iraq's towns and cities on Wednesday, saying the Iraqi people in their masses would rise up to confront any invading force.

"From where will the invader pass? He will find a people all of whose men and women have vowed not to allow them to pass by," Saddam told senior army officers in an address, extracts of which were broadcast on state television.

Iraq's official media has been televising meetings between Saddam and army chiefs over the past few days. The authorities have begun a morale-boosting campaign to prepare Iraqis for the prospect of war.

US President George W. Bush has made clear he is ready to launch military strikes against Iraq, with or without a new mandate from the UN Security Council, if he considers Baghdad has not made a full disclosure about any weapons of mass destruction.

"The rush of US officials (to war) will not take them anywhere. They will fall into a thousand pits because of their poor planning and their intentions against the world," Saddam said.

He drew parallels between the United States and empires that sought in past centuries to dominate the Arab world and were eventually vanquished.

"Those who target Arabs in their sanctities, faith and rights will fall..this is what history says. All the empires that preyed on the nation have ended," he said.

Referring to reported US plans to topple the Baath party that has ruled Iraq for over three decades, Saddam told his generals Iraqis wanted the ruling party to remain in power.

"Why should we dissolve the party....it's the backbone of the nation..." he said.

Saddam was also shown asking the army chiefs whether they were doing enough physical exercise. "Are you taking care of your fitness and training or is your preoccupation with equipment losing you interest in this side," he asked jokingly.