Saddam Hussein due to make defiant speech on Gulf War anniversary

The Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, is due to address the nation shortly on the seventh anniversary of the Gulf War -- and with tensions mounting again over UN weapons inspections, a senior official has said the speech will contain a strong message.

A BBC correspondent in Baghdad says recent pronouncements have made it clear that Iraq is in no mood to compromise in the current crisis caused by its obstruction of a UN inspection team led by an American.

The United States Defence Secretary, William Cohen, has warned that the patience of Washington and its allies is wearing thin.

Last night, members of Iraqi youth organisations and disabled war veterans staged a protest in front of the offices of the UN development programme, calling for an end to UN sanctions against Iraq..

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service