Saddam Hussein said enemy forces were in Iraq but were in trouble

President Saddam Hussein said the Iraqis were a brave people who had tried to follow the path of peace and deserved the support of God, in his second address since the start of the war.

The Iraqi leader also repeatedly praised what he described as the bravery of the Iraqi soldiers and cited the 11th Iraqi Infantry and the 45th Division, which has been operating in the south around the port of Umm Qasr.

This reference to recent fighting is being interpreted as a sign that Saddam Hussein has survived attacks on Baghdad.

Dressed in a well-cut uniform, wearing make up for the cameras, the blood back in his cheeks, President Saddam seemed more confident than in his earlier TV appearance, just after cruise missiles had targeted him, says the BBC's Andrew Gilligan in Baghdad.

The broadcast is an attempt to dispel rumours that the president was seriously injured by an American attack, our correspondent says.

'Hitting hard'

The Iraqi president said that enemy forces were in Iraq were in trouble.

Strike them, and strike evil so that evil will be defeated Iraqi President Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, who made several references to the Koran, said "all the infidels will be defeated" and praised his forces as "heroes of humanity and God" during what was described as a live broadcast.

He called on the Iraqis to hit the enemy hard and make them weary.

"Victory will be ours soon," President Saddam said. "Iraqis will strike the necks as God has commanded you."

He urged Iraqis "to strike evil so evil would be defeated".

But he also said his forces would make the war last as long as possible, so they could trap the Americans and British armies in a quagmire and slowly strangle them.

He said Iraq was facing decisive days and would cut off the heads of its enemies.