Reports of Baghdad siege 'lies of losers': Iraq

Iraq's information minister laughed off reports that US troops were closing in on Baghdad saying that such "silly" allegations were a "cover-up for their failure".

Iraq's Information Minister laughed off reports that US troops were closing in on Baghdad and taking up positions near its airport on Thursday.

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"They are nowhere near Baghdad," Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf told a news conference, adding that the suggestion was "silly".

"Their allegations are a cover-up for their failure. They've not been able to control any Iraqi city. We're waging a war of attrition against this snake and we will be victorious," he said.

"The lies of these losers have no end," Sahaf said when asked about the presence of US troops near the airport. "Why don't we go and welcome them, but instead of giving them flowers, we'll hurl shoes and bullets at them."