- BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein has warned the United States that his country
is ready to resist any invasion with all available weapons.
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- "With whatever weapons we have in our hands, and
after depending on God with faith, and because we are on the course of
righteousness, we are able to confront any aggressor, from wherever he
comes ...," Baghdad Monday newspapers quoted Saddam as saying.
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- The newspapers said Saddam made his comments during a
meeting Sunday with top military commanders and his two sons, Uday and
Qusay, called to discuss how to repel a possible U.S. attack on Iraq.
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- The United States and Britain, accusing Baghdad of acquiring
or trying to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, are seeking
U.N. Security Council support for the threat of military action unless
Iraq cooperates fully with U.N. weapons inspectors.
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- Baghdad says it has no such weapons and no intention
of acquiring them. It agreed, under great U.S. pressure, to allow the return
of weapons inspectors after a four-year absence, but the conditions under
which they will work remain to be settled.
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- The Baghdad press quoted Iraq's Air Defense Commander
as reporting to Saddam at Sunday's meeting that his troops "enjoy
high morale and have made technical preparations to confront the evil aggressors'
planes."
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- The commander said his men "will remain for ever
the president's loyal soldiers and knights in defense of Iraq until final
victory is achieved."
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- Saddam said Iraqis would fight an attack even if it cost
them their lives. "Any one should die as a martyr to defend his belongings,
his honor and homeland."
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- His remarks were the strongest since Bush earlier this
year made "regime change" in Baghdad a priority. Bush is due
to outline his case against Saddam in a prime-time speech later on Monday.
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- Saddam said he was "fully pleased to bear responsibility
in leading Iraq in the present confrontation" with Washington.
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- "To God, and only God, shall we bow down and not
to the greedy foreigner, no matter how technically powerful and arrogant
he may be," Saddam said, in a clear reference to the United States
though he did not name it.
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- "Because we are good faithful worshippers of God...the
fight would be decided in favor of the believers so long as they are victims
of aggression."
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- Saddam said Iraq's enemies crossed the oceans to "attack
us and deprive us of our dear goals without which we would be slaves with
no identity, no honor and no wealth..." But Iraq will not bow down
in the face of "threats and aggression," he said.
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