Definition of victory does not hinge on finding Saddam

THE White House said yesterday it would consider military action in Iraq a success even if US forces failed to find President Saddam Hussein, whose appearance on Iraqi television could prove he survived a US bombing raid on the first night of the war.

While finding Saddam either dead or alive would be "helpful", White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President Bush's "definition of victory" was removing the current government from power and eliminating the country's alleged weapons of mass destruction.

Fleischer made the comments just before Iraqi television broadcast a speech apparently by Saddam urging the people of Baghdad to "strike the enemy with force" and predicted victory over the invading US and British troops.