"Fight them (US-led coalition forces) so that Iraq, the bastion of religion and principles, will be secured and our (Islamic) nation will come out of this crisis glorious," said a statement of the Iraqi leader, which was read out by a TV anchor.

"Victory is at hand, God willing, although we have only utilized a third or less of our army while the criminals have used everything they brought in," the statement said.

"Their failure was manifested and victory is glowing, God willing," it added.

Saddam said in the statement that the Iraqi armed forces have not used full capabilities in the battle.

Wednesday's no-show speech has been the second one by Saddam within the past 24 hours, as the US-British troops speeded up advance toward the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad from three southern positions, Karbala, Diwaniyah and Kut.

In Tuesday's speech, read out by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al-Sahaf, Saddam called on all the Iraqis and Muslims in the world to join Jihad against the "invaders."

Tuesday night, US troops made their first major ground battle with elite Iraqi Republican Guards near Karbala, about 80 kms south of Baghdad.

According to senior military sources of the Forward Command of US Central Command in Qatar, the coalition troops were poised to launch an imminent attack on Baghdad within 48 hours.

Defying international opposition, the United States and Britain launched a war against Iraq on March 20 under the pretext of disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq has denounced the invaders as "criminals" and "villains," while urging the international community to stop the "aggression" unconditionally.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2003)