London: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's televised speech on March 24 was definitely pre-recorded, and not a live transmission, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said.

"Obviously analysis continues, but I can say straight away that those pictures were not live," Hoon told reporters.

In his second so-called "victory" speech to be seen since the war began on March 20, Saddam - dressed in a military uniform - promised a long and bitter war against US and British forces with Iraq crushing the invasion.

Hoon, speaking in London three hours after the broadcast on Iraqi television, told reporters, "There is still the possibility of Saddam Hussein's people issuing tape recordings."

"We are well aware that he spent many hours recently tape-recording various messages," he said. "We have to do a little more analysis of what was actually said to see whether or not that was in fact Saddam Hussein."