Families stock up with food as Iraq prepares for war

WITH almost 200,000 US and British troops massed around it, the government of Saddam Hussein prepared Iraqis for war yesterday, equipping families with extra food and inviting citizens to help “inflict defeat on the evil aggressors.”

Saddam, top aides and military commanders discussed "the preparations of our courageous armed forces and of the Iraqi people to confront the US threats of aggression," the Iraqi News Agency reported.

"They also discussed ways to enhance Iraqis' capabilities and steadfastness, in a way that provides all Iraqis with the chance to gain the honour of defending Iraq ... and enabling them to inflict defeat on the evil aggressors," according to the reports.