Iraqi president issues statement on US - British air strikes

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has addressed a message to the nation circulated by the Iraqi News Agency. In his message the Iraqi president admitted that the US air strikes "hit several targets."

Iraqi Radio reported that the Iraqi president on Thursday morning made a tour of the sites targeted by the "Anglo-American aggression, including a house for his younger daughter, Hala."

The US Secretary of Defense William Cohen said today that the attacks will continue, with 75 targets being hit. US military officials did not provide the success rate when asked but said that a military communications relay site was hit in the south. Additional, US Gen. Hugh Shelton said that leaflets were droped in the South of Iraq telling soldiers that they will not be attacked if they don't resist or attack Kuwait. The officials added that the Iraqi defense system in the south has been significantly degraded, and that a "long range" missile reseach site was hit, adding that there are additional sites that could not be hit because they are "dual use" manufacturing milk and medicine.

But Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf said in a press conference, "They attacked several residential areas in Baghdad where huge numbers of citizens live, a matter which resulted in great number of victims and huge material losses." Today, Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said that the attacks were on civilian targets and on the monuments that are "dear to Iraqis." He cited that the attacks hit radio, TV stations, oil refineries and administrative buildings.

President Hussein urged the Iraqis to "resist the aggression."