Iraqi president Saddam Hussein today issued another statement his second in the past 24 hours declaring that victory is at hand.

In a broadcast o­n Iraqi satellite television, Saddam urged his countrymen to fight o­n and defend their towns against US-led invasion.

Associated Press reported that Saddam's statement was read by an Iraqi news anchor in a military uniform.

"Saddam repeatedly called upon his people to fight and said the Iraqi armed forces have not used their full capabilities in the battle," added AP .

"Fight them so that Iraq, the bastion of religion and principles, will be secured and our (Islamic) nation will come out of this crisis glorious," Saddam was quoted as saying.

"Fight them. Victory is at hand, God willing, although we have o­nly utilised a third or less of our army while the criminals have used everything they brought in."

"Their failure was manifested and victory is glowing, God willing," he added.

The other statement

AP

said that Saddam singled out the11th Division of the Iraqi army and Baath Party members in Nasiriyah and other southern towns who have "exhausted" the coalition forces and urged Iraqis to follow their example in defending their cities.

AP

added that the statement, which was monitored in Doha, Qatar, was different than o­ne broadcast yesterday night in which Saddam called for Iraqis to wage jihad against coalition forces. That statement was read by Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf.

In an immediate reaction to the Tuesday televised statement, AFP quoted the White House as saying that Saddam's failure to deliver a threatening televised speech personally raises "interesting questions" about whether the Iraqi leader is dead or alive.

US media have suggested that Saddam may have been killed or wounded in the March 20 " decapitating " strikes o­n a suspected leadership bunker in Baghdad that targeted the elusive Iraqi chief and his two sons, Uday and Qusay .

Since then, Saddam has been shown several times o­n state television, but it is not known whether the footage was recorded before US-led forces launched their attack, and the United States has said it has no proof that he is dead.