Iraq has indicated it is defying the air exclusion zones in northern and southern Iraq which are patrolled by American and British planes.

Speaking just a day after a clash between the Iraqis and Americans, the Iraqi vice-president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, told the Associated Press that Iraqi planes were in effect flying in a normal manner in Iraqi air space.

Referring to yesterday's incident, Mr Ramadan said Iraq would continue to fire at any aircraft that violated Iraqi airspace.

He said: The war is still on.

The British and Americans cite United Nations resolutions for imposing the air exclusion zones which were established to protect Kurds and Shi'ites.