Bush: 'Son of a viper'

It said the air strikes by Western warplanes had hit civilians and it called the US President, George W Bush, the son of a viper.

The paper implicated Israel in the attack and said Iraq would teach the new American administration and the Zionist Entity lessons on holy war.

But Iraq's options for revenge are limited since the country is still boxed in by UN sanctions.

It is also patrolled daily by US and British warplanes that retain total control of most of Iraq's airspace.

Call for help

As a possible sign of these limitations, a senior member of the Iraqi president's ruling Baath party has reportedly called for help from the Arab world.

Saad Kassem Hammudi, was quoted as saying that the Arab masses must express their fury by attacking American and British interests.

He also called on Arab countries to snub the coming visit to the region by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

Regardless of how Arab governments react to these air strikes, Arab feeling in the street sides largely with Iraq.

There is now an increased risk of isolated attacks on Americans and Britons in the region by those sympathetic to Baghdad.