Newspapers in Kuwait blasted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's message to the Kuwaiti people, which has triggered a new war of words and reinforced the emirate's deep mistrust of its former occupier.
"Saddam changes colour, but not his nature," read Al-Watan'sheadline a day after the Iraqi leader apologized for the August 1990 invasion in a "message to the people of Kuwait".
The daily's front-page editorial criticised the "farcical speech" as "threatening and provocative" and said Saddam's "actions don't compare with rational logic."
"At a time when he needs to improve his image with the world, he again returns to threatening Kuwait and provoking its citizens to kill Americans," it said.
"He is indeed an isolated person who does not know anything about what is going on around him ... He foolishly believes Kuwaitis will respond to these provocations.
"He loves to kill, he loves to conspire and shed blood," said Al-Watan.
Al-Qabasmeanwhile described Saddam's speech as a "coarse threat" and his apology as "invalid".
The Iraqi leader is a "time bomb that threatens international peace," Al-Qabassaid. "Saddam doesn't learn from catastrophes he caused for Iraq, Kuwait and the region" and he "can't hide his aggressive nature," it added.
AFP