Saddam urges Jihad in Christmas message

The Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, has delivered a Christmas message calling on Christians and Muslims to declare a holy war, or Jihad, on Israel.

He accused the Israelis of defiling both Christian and Muslim sanctuaries, and of wanting to exterminate Palestinians, with the support of the United States.

He said Jihad was the only way of achieving the eventual goal of peace.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service