Iraq defiantly marked the 10th anniversary of its invasion of Kuwait yesterday, despite the harsh economic situation caused by UN trade sanctions.
State-run newspapers criticised Kuwait's rulers, blaming them for Iraq's seven-month occupation of the oil-rich country.
The ruling Ba'ath party newspaper said "there was no option" for Iraq but to send troops into Kuwait to repulse what it described as a conspiracy by the US and Kuwait against Baghdad.
A government newspaper, al-Jumhouriya, added: "What Iraq did on August 2nd, 1990, was to exercise its legitimate right to defend itself against a major plot aimed at our sovereignty and unity."
Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait after weeks of wrangling over oil-production quotas. The occupation lasted until a US-led multinational alliance based in Saudi Arabia drove the invaders out in February 1991.
Ten years on, despite being subject to crippling sanctions and almost daily bombing by NATO forces, Baghdad still says it has no regrets and President Saddam remains firmly in power.
"The Iraqis were able to foil the conspiracy and despite the aggression and the unjust embargo we are still strong enough in all fields," the official al-Iraq newspaper said.
The papers stopped short, however, of declaring Kuwait part of Iraq, as was the case in the early years after the invasion.
In 1994, as part of efforts to get the sanctions lifted, Iraq recognised Kuwait as an independent state within the borders demarcated by a UN commission.
In Kuwait, relatives of Kuwaitis killed during Iraq's occupation remembered their dead yesterday on the anniversary of the invasion.
"I miss my father a lot . . . but at the same time I am very proud of him as he dedicated himself to defend his country," Dhuha Mouhammad (16), whose father died during the invasion, said.
Anood al-Saleh, only seven when President Saddam sent his troops across the border into Kuwait, said her heart went out to Iraqis languishing under international sanctions, although she was still afraid of Kuwait's larger neighbour.
The two were among some 100 Kuwaitis attending an open day to mark the anniversary, organised by the "Martyrs' Bureau", an office set up by the Kuwaiti government in 1991 to care for the families of Kuwaitis killed during the Iraqi occupation.