Iraqi officials told to shape up

Iraqi officials told to shape up

Saddam Hussein's men have been ordered to keep fit

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has issued decrees ordering the pay of overweight Iraqi officials and army officers to be cut in half.

The decree says that, should anyone's weight "exceed the allowed limit", causing them to fail their annual fitness check-up, any bonuses and additional religious and national holidays they enjoy will also be halved.

Any members of his ruling Baath Party caught gambling will also be hit with mandatory prison sentences of three years, and face loss of party membership plus any other government position they may hold.

As the country gears up for a possible military conflict, Saddam Hussein has repeatedly urged his army and government to prepare for war by keeping fit and maintaining training.

He has reportedly issued such decrees on obesity in the ranks of the Iraqi civil service before, French news agency AFP reported.