Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has described US plans to topple his regime as "criminal."
The Iraqi leader, addressing a meeting of his ruling Ba’ath party, said the statements from the United States "are not those of a great power which respects itself, but they are criminals."
"Criminals do not deserve the respect of people. They have applied this policy (of trying to overthrow the regime) for a long time without announcing it openly. Now, they are making it public," he said.
Saddam was answering a question during a meeting with provincial Ba’ath officials about US media reports that US President George W Bush had directed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to undertake a comprehensive, covert programme to overthrow him, with authority to use lethal force.
He also said ironically that the Americans should "spare the Iraqi people ... then they can concentrate on the leaders."
The US administration is reportedly preparing the pre-emptive military strikes as an option against states like Iraq that are developing weapons of mass destruction and have links to terrorist groups.
AFP