Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said in a message read by a television announcer on Wednesday that he could scent victory, saying Iraq had so far launched less than a third of its forces against U.S.-led invaders. "Victory is within our reach... we have used only one third of our army or even less while the criminals have used up all of the forces they brought to commit aggression against Iraq," said the message read on Iraq's satellite channel.

In another message read out on Iraqi state television late on Tuesday by Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Saddam told his people that jihad or a just war was a religious duty and he urged them to fight invading troops.

Speculation has abounded about Saddam's fate since U.S. bombs targeted him on the first night of the war on March 20. State television has shown Saddam addressing the nation twice since.

He has also been shown several times with various top aides. On Monday, state television showed a brief clip of the 65-year-old leader at a table with his two sons, Uday and Qusay.

In the new message, Saddam was quoted urging Iraqi forces in the southern city of Nassiriya to resist U.S.-led forces, saying their fighting spirit set an example for all Iraqis to follow.

"Fight them with the same passion and spirit, and let every one of you and the people of Nassiriya and Dhiqar remember his faith, character and sense of duty. Then the enemy will be defeated in other cities as they were outside your city," said the message the announcer said was dated April 1.

Dhiqar is the province where Nassiriya is situated. Nassiriya is 375 km (235 miles) southeast of Baghdad.

"Fight the enemy and let them get a taste of your roughness... You have become the symbol of leadership," the statement said, naming several of the military figures Saddam said were leading Iraqi forces in Nassiriya.

Some Nassiriya residents told reporters on Tuesday that a small number of Fedayeen militia and loyalists to Saddam's Baath Party continued to put up stiff resistance to U.S. forces who have pummeled targets in the city for the past six days

PHOTO CAPTION

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said in a message read by a television announcer April 1, 2003 that he could scent victory, saying Iraq had so far launched less than a third of its forces against U.S.-led invaders. Saddam is seen on Iraqi state television March 31 meeting with his sons Uday and Qusay, and military commanders. (Reuters Television/Reuters)