Saddam: 'Wives and mothers of America will weep blood'

Appearing on television in military uniform for the first time since the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein yesterday defied the American ultimatum to leave Iraq with his sons and vowed to fight off invaders.

The Iraqi leader did not speak to his subjects, but he was shown chairing a meeting of Iraq's Revolution Command Council, with his son Qusay, who heads the Republican Guard, and senior commanders.

"The meeting stressed that Iraq and all its sons were fully ready to confront the invading aggressors and repel them," said a council statement. "Iraq doesn't ... choose its leaders by decree from Washington, London or Tel Aviv."

Answering George Bush's 48-hour deadline, President Saddam's older son, Uday, said: "The proposal ... comes from a person who is not completely capable or fit. The wives and mothers of those Americans who will fight us will weep blood, not tears. They should not imagine that they will have a safe spot inside the land of Iraq or outside it."

Iraq's Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, said it was "Bush who should go into exile, because it is Mr Bush who is endangering the whole world". He and Tony Blair were the ones who should resign, he added.

Five thousand demonstrators, including women waving pistols, marched through Baghdad chanting: "We sacrifice our blood and souls for you, Saddam."

The last of the UN weapons inspectors left Iraq yesterday and flew to Cyprus. "It's unfortunate we have to leave," their spokesman, Hiro Ueki, said.

At Saddam International airport, hundreds of people snatched the last plane seats to Jordan and Syria, the only destinations available. Diplomats, aid workers and journalists joined the rush as Baghdad's inhabitants mobbed bakeries and petrol stations in a desperate rush for supplies.