Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's youngest son Qusay said Iraqis were ready to retaliate against any US military action against their country.
"Your brave people in Iraq are well prepared to retaliate against failing American threats," Qusay said in an open letter to his father to mark the ruling Baath party's 55th anniversary, carried by the Baghdad press today.
"Swords of your sons in the republican army...are unsheathed against any foreign aggression," said Qusay, who controls the Republican Guards, the most powerful division of Iraq's army.
Qusay's letter was published hours after US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed to tackle Saddam over the threat he poses with weapons of mass destruction, saying inaction was not an option.
Mr Bush explicitly reiterated his administration's policy was to remove Saddam from power, while Mr Blair, who faces some stiff opposition at home to direct military action against Iraq, said: "Iraq would be a better place without Saddam Hussein."