Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations has said he believed Saddam Hussein was alive and that his country was hopeful of "a victory sometime" against US and British troops.
"I think he's alive," Mr Mohammed Aldouri said on NBC's Today Show."I cannot believe these kinds of speculations [that he is dead]. It's part of the propaganda war. Obviously he's still alive and he's the chief commander right now".
Saddam was the target of a US missile strike that started the war last Wednesday night, and since then the United States has sought to determine whether he survived the attack.
Mr Aldouri cited Saddam's appearance on television this morning as proof the Iraqi president was alive.
During the televised speech, Saddam vowed his forces would prevail in spite of a heavy onslaught by US and British troops.
"The Iraqi people is a brave people," Mr Aldouri said. "They will not welcome this army and there will be a very heavy fight and Baghdad will defeat those people who want to destroy Baghdad".
Mr Aldouri said he had conferred with Iraq's foreign affairs minister, Mr Naji Sabri, who was in Cairo for a meeting of the Arab League and was confident an Iraqi victory was possible.
"He's confident, he told me everything is going well," Mr Aldouri said. "Everything is all right. We are hoping there will be a victory sometime".