Trucks of aid arrived in the ruined capital of Pakistan-ruled Kashmir today, and victims scuffled for badly needed food and blankets three days after a devastating earthquake flattened whole communities, killing tens of thousands and leaving millions homeless.

AS the US death toll in Iraq climbed to 417 over the weekend, an Arab television network last night broadcast a purported audio tape by fugitive dictator Saddam Hussein warning of more deaths for US-led troops.

An audio broadcast purportedly made by Saddam Hussein told Iraqis today to step up their resistance to the US-led occupation, saying the United States and its allies misjudged the difficulty of occupying Iraq.