Saddam vows victory over US

Saddam vows victory over US

Saddam has flatly rejected exile

Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been seeking to rally his people behind him as the United States steps up its preparations to topple him.

In a letter read out on television to mark the Islamic New Year on Tuesday, Saddam told his people that if they kept their faith they would emerge victorious from any military showdown with the US.

"The fruit of your faith and your patience will be victory over your enemy. God willing, the believers will achieve victory over the tyrant and his associates," said the Iraqi leader, referring to the US President George W Bush and his close international allies.

"The tyrant of this era thinks that he is an alternative to God and is his shadow on earth. The tyrant imagines himself, God forbid, as God."

Defiant compliance

The letter, which was read out by a television presenter, came as Washington announced it was deploying thousands more troops to the Gulf in preparation for war.

Tyranny will be defeated - arrogance will be of no use to it

Saddam Hussein

Washington is currently trying to push a UN resolution laying the groundwork for war through the Security Council, but has made clear that it is prepared to go to war without explicit UN backing.

There have also been calls from some Gulf Arab states for the Iraqi leader to consider going into exile, a proposition he has flatly rejected.

In Tuesday's message, the Iraqi leader appealed to "the people of Iraq, the faithful the strong and to the people of Palestine, and to all the Mujahedeen around the world" to keep their faith.

"You are those who are able to withstand aggression and are capable of facing whatever you may face. God is great," he added.

Despite Saddam's tough talk, the Iraqi regime has increased its level of co-operation with the UN weapons inspectors in the hope of averting conflict.

Baghdad is destroying a series of missiles which the UN says breach regulations, and has also vowed to provide within the next week evidence that it does not have the biological weapons the US insists it possesses.