Saddam makes television appearance

IRAQI President Saddam Hussein chaired a meeting of top aides, including his elder son, Uday, making his first televised appearance since the outbreak of the US-led war, state television showed.

The meeting was aired less than three hours after a coalition warplane fired missiles into Saddam's main presidential compound in Baghdad's city centre. It was the first time Uday, who heads the Fedayeen Saddam paramilitary militia and runs media outlets, was seen since the war began.

The meeting was also attended by Saddam's younger son and heir apparent, Qusay, who heads the elite Republican Guard, as well as Defence Minister Sultan Hashim, Air Force Commander Hamid Shallah, Military Industrialisation Minister Abdel Tawwab Mulla Huwaish and his deputy, Muzahem al-Hassan.