Iraqi state television detailed on Friday President Saddam Hussein's tips to senior officials on how to resist invading forces.
"Victory is certain and it is in our hands, but what is needed is foresight and presence on the battlefield. I remind everybody that today is a day for testing principles," it quoted him as saying at a meeting, the date of which was not given.
"To achieve this goal, we must not let the enemy decide and hit, but we must find ways to exhaust him and tear through his ranks and not give him the chance to catch his breath."
Iraqi TV first showed pictures of the meeting on Thursday.
It said Saddam discussed the state of Iraqi battle-readiness and issued "valuable" guidance to those present who included Iraq's vice-president and ministers of defence and irrigation.
US-led forces have closed in on Baghdad and said on Friday, day 16 of the war, that they had taken the city airport.
Saddam reportedly told Iraqi commanders to maintain high spirits, ordering those who could not fight to make way for those who can "because we cannot accept half measures", and reminded the Baath Party of its oath to defeat invading forces.
"We all wish to spare Iraqis from evil, even from the smallest scratch, but when the country, people and nation are facing the danger they face now, then we must fight and resist and be up to the challenge and danger so that victory is achieved and the enemy defeated," he was quoted as saying.
{{/usCountry}}"We all wish to spare Iraqis from evil, even from the smallest scratch, but when the country, people and nation are facing the danger they face now, then we must fight and resist and be up to the challenge and danger so that victory is achieved and the enemy defeated," he was quoted as saying.
{{/usCountry}}Saddam, in military uniform, appeared businesslike and calm in the footage of the meeting shown on Thursday.