American broadcasting giant CBS issued a damning independent review of mistakes over an investigative report on President George Bush’s National Guard service, sacking three news executives and a producer for their ”myopic zeal” in rushing it to air.

America’s CBS News has mounted an aggressive defence of its report about President George Bush’s service in the Air National Guard, saying broadcast memos questioned by forensic experts came from “what we consider to be solid sources”.

Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein said his country is prepared to defend itself vigorously against any US-led attack.

THE broadcast of an interview with Saddam Hussein, who challenged US President George W Bush to a televised debate, was being held up

Saddam Hussein may be having second thoughts about his initial defiance of UN orders to destroy Iraq’s Al Samoud 2 missiles.