Saddam Hussein: "People of the Arab World, rise against the foreigners"

In a speech to mark the anniversary of the Iraqi army being founded, he said: "Revolt, sons of the great Arab nation, against injustice and let your voices be heard."

BBC's Diplomatic Editor Brian Hanrahan described the speech as a "considerable raising of the stakes".

BBC's John McIntyre in Baghdad: Saddam Hussein is a master of extravagant rhetoric

The Army Day address was broadcast by Qatar's Al-Jazeera Television. It had been due to go out on Wednesday, but was brought forward, possibly in response to the clash on Tuesday between US warplanes and Iraqi fighters in the no-fly zone over southern Iraq.

The Iraqi president said: "Raise your voice high. By God, there is no better honour than your position to revolt against the injustice and those who support it."

'Dwarves on thrones'

He said: "It is the duty of the nation ... to rebel (against certain Arab leaders) to bring back those who need it (to the right path) or to knock them off their path."

"Revolt against those who boast of friendship with the United States, those who are guided by (US Defence Secretary) William Cohen.

"The dwarves on their thrones will be forced to hear you, or else they will step down to give way for the people to say their opinion and take their action."

The address was an apparent appeal to Arab masses, especially in countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which Iraq has accused of failing to support its efforts to end UN sanctions.

There were widespread protests in the Arab world during the US and UK air strikes carried out against Iraq from 16-19 December over its failure to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors.

'Tainted' icons

Saddam Hussein appealed to the Arab public, saying: "You, the youth of the Arab nation, in schools and universities and on the streets; you, all the faithful in the houses of worship; you, in the armies of the Arab nation; raise your voices, put pressure on them, those who are traitors and impure."

He also said that sacred Arab and Muslim symbols were being "tainted" by foreigners.

The city of Jerusalem was a "humiliated hostage", and the holy Muslim city of Medina, in Saudi Arabia, was "wounded by the presence of foreign soldiers and their spears".