President Saddam Hussein yesterday called Western-imposed no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq illegal and declared that they would be resisted with "bravery and courage", in a sign that further confrontation is inevitable.
In comments reported by the official Iraqi news agency, Mr Saddam told a meeting of his cabinet that the no-fly zones were "flagrant and clear-cut violations of international laws, accords and norms, particularly the United Nations charter".
The Iraqi leader's statement was his first public comment since two clashes last week between Iraqi air defence units and US and British warplanes patrolling the zones, set up by Western forces after the 1991 Gulf War to limit his military power in northern Kurdish and southern Shia regions.
Iraq has repeatedly challenged the no-fly zones since the end of the four-day campaign of air strikes by US and British forces two weeks ago. The strikes were launched after UN weapons inspectors reported that Baghdad had failed to co-operate fully. Senior Iraqi officials have said Baghdad will continue to defy the no-fly zones. An Iraqi government newspaper yesterday predicted confrontation with Washington and London would escalate after a pause over the New Year.
Mr Saddam described the no-fly zones as "an aggressive operation which violates the will of the Arab people and the Iraqi people, which rejects them and is determined to resist them with all bravery and courage.
"Arabs and just people all over the world are asking what these planes are doing flying in the skies of an independent country, and why they have been violating the air space of this country for eight years without a UN resolution permitting this," the Iraqi news agency quoted him as saying.
The report did not say when the cabinet meeting took place. Since the end of the air strikes last month Iraq has twice said it "almost certainly" shot down Western aircraft but blamed them for opening fire.
US and British air force spokesmen denied they have lost planes, but confirmed returning fire at anti-aircraft artillery. Four Iraqi soldiers are believed to have been killed in one clash.
Mr Saddam also criticised Arab nations for delaying until January 24th a proposed summit meeting to discuss the US-British attacks on Iraq, saying the delay was aimed at reducing the sense of urgency in tackling the air strikes.
Reuters adds: United Nations officials have held talks with Iraq to try to persuade it not to ban American and British nationals working for the UN humanitarian programme there, diplomats in Baghdad said yesterday.
They gave no details of the talks, aimed at averting a new crisis just two weeks after the United States and Britain ended four days of air strikes on Baghdad.
The diplomats said Iraq had told the United Nations it was concerned for the safety of Americans and Britons in Iraq after the raids, and would not renew visas for those in the country or give entry permits to those returning from leave. Iraq has made no public statement and UN officials in Baghdad declined to comment.
Diplomats said Iraq's decision could affect 18 American and British citizens working throughout Iraq for the UN humanitarian programme, aimed at alleviating the worst effects of trade sanctions imposed for Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
The UN has 420 international staff in Iraq, based in Baghdad and in the three Kurdish-dominated northern provinces.