President Saddam Hussein appeared o­n the Iraqi state-run television today to tell his nation that the United States and its allies were "trapped" as Iraq resisted their advances "heroically".

A CNN report said it was not immediately clear whether the presidential address, which made references to current battles and "setbacks to the enemies" was a live broadcast or taped.

Saddam read from a script while sitting in front of a national flag and a white sheet emblazoned with the national seal.