"When the enemy launches the war on a large scale, it must realize that the battle between us will be waged wherever there is sky, earth and water in the world," Saddam said in a meeting with top aides in Baghdad.

The United States and Britain, accusing Iraq of secretly developing weapons of mass destruction, are pouring over 250,000 troops into the Gulf region to back up their threats to disarm Baghdad by force.

Saddam repeated his denial that Iraq has any weapons of mass destruction and termed the pretext of US and Britain for war "a big lie."

"There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Saddam said.

"For those who ask for a delay for Iraq to destroy its weapons, well, give us time and the necessary means and we will produce any weapon they want and then we will invite them to come and destroy them," said Saddam.

Earlier on Sunday, US President George W. Bush said at a news conference after meeting with leaders of Britain, Spain and Portugal, that "tomorrow (Monday) will be a moment of truth for the world," and also "the day to determine if diplomacy is going to work."

Top UN arms inspector Hans Blix said, in a response to the just-ended Azores summit in Portugal, that the Bush remarks were "very threatening."

Iraq FM Says His Country Preparing for War

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said on Sunday his country is preparing for war as if it breaks out in an hour, al-Arabia TV channel reported.

"We have been working on two fronts, one is that we have taken all measures to avoid war, including offering full cooperation with UN arms inspectors, the other is that we have been well prepared for any war," Sabri said in an interview with the Arabic-language TV channel.

"Food supplies have been distributed to the people to last till the end of August," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2003)