President Saddam Hussein today issued a fresh call for the Iraqi people to fight on and defend their towns, according to a broadcast on Iraqi satellite television.
In the statement, which was read by an Iraqi presenter in military uniform, Saddam said "victory is at hand", repeatedly called on Iraqis to fight, and said his army had yet to deploy their full capabilities in battle.
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"Fight them so that Iraq, the bastion of religion and principles, will be secured and our (Islamic) nation will come out of this crisis glorious," he said. "Fight them. Victory is at hand, God willing, although we have only utilised a third or less of our army while the criminals have used everything they brought in."
"Their failure was manifested and victory is glowing, God willing," he said.
He singled out the 11th Division of the Iraqi army and Baath Party members in Nasiriyah and other southern towns who have "exhausted" the coalition forces. He urged Iraqis to follow their example in defending their cities.
The statement, monitored in Doha, Qatar, was different from another broadcast last night in which Saddam called for Iraqis to wage jihad or holy war against coalition forces. That statement was read by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf.
AP