Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Thursday reacted angrily to the US attack saying it is a 'shameful crime against humanity' and called for resistance.

Dressed in military fatigue, Saddam Hussein in a television broadcast nearly three hours after US-led coalition launched air and missile strikes on military installations, said, "Iraq is being treated unjustly by enemies and Iraq's enemies will be humiliated."

Reading out from a prepared statement, Saddam exhorted the Iraqi people to 'protect and defend this dear nation and its values. You will be victorious against your enemies'.

"Those who are thought they are treated unjustly are granted permission to fight and god will give them victory," Saddam said.

The US-led attack is in addition 'to the series of their shameful crimes against Iraq and humanity. This is a start for other additional crimes', he said.

"All Iraqis and those who care for our nation, sacrificing for the values of our nation ... I will not repeat what should be said. It is the duty of all good people to protect and defend this dear nation and its values."

"We will resist the invaders," Saddam said blasting the 'cowardly aggression'.

Appearing on his son Uday's Youth television, Saddam began by saying "There is no need to remind Iraqis what to do and what not to in the face of the attack."

"In any event you will be victorious over your enemies who are covered in opprobrium and ignominy," he said in the nearly 10-minute address.

"We promise you that Iraq, its leadership and its people will stand up to the evil invaders, and we will take them to such limits that they will lose their patience in achieving their plans, which are pushed by criminal Zionism," Saddam said.

"They will face a bitter defeat, God willing," he said.

"You will be able to achieve glory and your despicable infidel enemies will be defeated."

"Draw your swords and be not be afraid," he told the Iraqi people before concluding his address in which he quoted classical Arab poetry, which glorified the heroism of Arabs.

The Iraqi president is being seen on Iraqi television after a long time. It was not clear whether the broadcast was live or pre-recorded.

Calling the US attack on Iraq as 'shameful', Hussein said, "We love peace and we are working towards peace."

He came down heavily on his US counterpart, whom he referred to as 'Bush Jr'.

US President George Bush's father George Bush Sr had also waged war against Iraq, but failed to dislodge President Saddam Hussein.

Meanwhile, Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations Mohammed al-Douri told reporters at the UN that the US attack was in violation of international law and the UN charter.

"This is a breach of peace. We will take this matter to the UN and the Security Council, hopefully on Thursday," he said.

Iraqi authorities have called the attack as 'stupid' and the aggressors 'cowards, tyrants and criminals'.

Iraqi Information Minister Mohamed Saeed al-Sahhaf branded as 'criminals' and 'killers' US and British forces taking part in the attack and said it was 'flagrant aggression'.

"The war will be difficult and will finish in defeat for the Americans," Sahhaf said adding, "This is a good proof that they are killers and they believe in assassinations."

"The President is on duty," he said at a press conference in Baghdad when asked where Saddam Hussein was?