Baghdad: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein repeated on October 23 that Iraq would fight and defend its sovereignty if attacked by the United States, the official INA news agency reported.

"Iraq is determined to build and to fight (the United States) in order to defend its principles, its goals and its role ... within the Arab nation," he told an Egyptian journalist, according to INA.

"We will not let you down. We will make you proud," he said, referring to the fight Baghdad says it will put up if Washington makes good on its threats to attack Iraq and overthrow his regime.