Three hours after the United States unleashed its first salvo o­n Iraq, President Saddam Hussein remained defiant and accused President George W Bush of committing crimes against humanity.

A Reuters report said the Iraqi leader, determined to prove that he had withstood the US "decapitation" strike o­n Baghdad, appeared o­n national television clad in a military uniform and took care to make a reference to today's date.

"To the great Iraqi people, the brave strugglers, to the heroic armed forces: with the prayers of dawn o­n March 20, 2003, the reckless criminal little Bush committed the crime that he has been threatening to commit against Iraq and humanity," said the 66-year-old president.

Pentagon officials had earlier said the initial strikes , which saw a volley of cruise missiles ( photo ) raining o­n Baghdad at 5.30am Iraqi time (10.30am Malaysian time), was aimed at eliminating Saddam and other senior leaders.