By Hassan Hafidh
Reuters
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998; 9:52 p.m. EST

BAGHDAD, Dec 17 — Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Thursday defiantly called on Iraq's armed forces and people to fight a U.S. and British military assault.

"Our great people and our brave armed forces...resist and fight them. Fight the enemies of God, the (Arab) nation and humanity," Saddam said in an address to the Iraqi people he read on the state-run radio.

"God will make you victorous while they will gain nothing but shame."

Saddam said the U.S. and British forces had bombed a number of targets but gave no details.

"On this night...as we had expected and as they had done eight years ago, the disgraceful aggressors bombed a number of targets in the land of your great Iraq thinking that they would destroy your great will," Saddam said.

"We know what angers you is not their aggression but because they are not fighting you face to face, relying on their hi-technology which is in no way a measure of bravery," he added.

As soon as Saddam finished his brief statement a fifth round of anti-aircraft fire started at 5:15 a.m. (0215 GMT), but it was not clear what kind of targets were hit by incoming fire.