Saddam 'suffers severe stroke'

Opposition leaders in Iraq say that Saddam Hussein has been rushed to hospital after suffering a "severe stroke".

Saddam is being treated at Iben Sinna Hospital, said a statement issued by dissident leader Bayan Jaber of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

The Iraqi leader had earlier officiated at the country's biggest New Year's Day parade in 10 years .

There was no mention of Saddam's medical condition or whereabouts by the official Iraqi news media which does not normally carry news about his health or that of his family members.

Hussein officiated on Sunday at the biggest military parade in Baghdad since the 1991 Gulf War. Flanked by top aides, Saddam greeted army units with shots from a rifle he held in one hand as tanks rumbled past and fighter jets and helicopter gunships flew overhead.

Last week at the end of Ramadan, which this year coincided with Christmas, Saddam issued an appeal to all Christians and Moslems to rise up in holy war against Israel and the "Zionist conspiracy".