Iraq vows to retaliate for air strikes

Iraq has threatened to retaliate after last night's US-British air strikes.

Two people were killed and 20 were wounded in the missile attack on air defence and radar sites south of Baghdad, the official Iraqi News Agency reported.

The first fatality, Ghayda Atshaan Abdullah, died hours after the 9pm attack. The second, Khalil Hameed Alwash, died early today.

Two of the wounded are in critical condition, hospital officials said.

The state-run newspaper Al-Qadissiya said in a front-page editorial: "The American administration claimed the strikes were in self-defence.

"They are laughing at the world by telling such lies. Iraq was defending its skies from illegal American-British air strikes.

"This crime will not go without strong punishment for the aggressive Americans," the paper added.

It did not say how Iraq would retaliate.

President Saddam Hussein, meanwhile, met with his top aides to discuss the air strikes, according to the official Iraqi News Agency.

"The meeting discussed last night's American aggression and the military measures and steps needed to be taken to respond to America and those who help her in case this aggression is repeated," the agency said.