Saddam Hussein's apology to Kuwait, read out by the Iraqi information minister on Baghdad TV, cuts no ice in Kuwait or elsewhere.

The disastrous speech was not an apology but rather a denial of all truths and facts Al-Ittihad

"The content of the Iraqi president's address is full of lies and requires a new apology for it," declares Kuwait's Al-Qabas.

Al-Watan, also from Kuwait, says: "[Saddam's] address was typical - mere words with no meaning in reality."

"It clearly shows," it adds, "the condition of the Iraqi president and his profound feeling that he will be dealt a severe blow."

UAE's Al-Ittihad shares the scepticism: "The disastrous speech... was not an apology but rather a denial of all truths and facts."

Saddam, the paper believes, "was actually agitating for violence and terrorism".

"It was a frightening stand - strange and shameful."

Contempt for both Saddam and the United States is expressed by Algeria's Al-Fadjr.

"Saddam is ready to play more roles just to win US favour and stay in power," the paper says.

We hoped Saddam will this time take a different course, but instead we see him on the same path that will only lead to the abyss Al-Watan

"He also knows the USA needs him just as much as it needs Osama Bin Laden and all the rest of its imaginary enemies, created by itself... in its endeavour to control the world."

Iran's Al-Vefagh argues that: "However much Iraq strives to convince the US, it may not get any results since the US administration has resolved... that it is preparing for an attack whatever the results of negotiations or the [weapons] inspectors' reports."

Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan also rubbishes the televised apology, saying that it was "full of arrogance, threats and untruthful claims".

"We hoped Saddam will this time take a different course," it remarks. "But instead we see him on the same path that will only lead to the abyss."

Exasperation with US

Remarks from those close to the US administration suggesting that it has proof of Iraq's weapons programmes and may attack regardless of the findings of the inspectors, continue to infuriate the Arabic-language press.

America will find a pretext to convince the world... that an attack has to be launched Hayat-e-Now

"Bush is attempting, even before people have read the [Iraqi] report, to publicise rumours of deception," says the London-based Al-Arab al-Alamiyah.

"If Bush was convinced by the information he has, he would have presented it to the inspectors," the paper argues.

The Palestinian Al-Quds believes the report "will not satisfy Washington as this is what senior US officials have stated".

The paper warns that America will use the Iraqi report as a "contrived pretext to declare [war] without any justification or legitimate and acceptable proof".

Iran's pro-reform papers agree.

"Even if UN inspectors fail to find any weapons in Iraq, American and British warmongering elements will find a new pretext for starting a war," says Aftab-e Yazd.

We are approaching the moment of truth Hatzofe

Hayat-e Now makes the same point: "America will find a pretext to convince the world... that an attack has to be launched."

Iran News argues that America's "real objective" is to control Iraq's oil reserves so that it can reduce its dependence on Saudi oil and diminish the importance of Iranian oil in world markets.

A commentator in Israel's right-wing Hatzofe believes war is not distant.

"The US is not pinning much hope on the activities of the UN inspectors," it says, adding that President Bush has ordered his army to continue preparations for war.

"We are approaching the moment of truth," it concludes.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.