My, Mr President, how you've changed

Iraqis clustered around their TV sets yesterday to see what appeared to be a defiant speech from their president praising the war effort and promising victory.

But once again Western observers were asking: 'Was that the real Saddam, and when were his words recorded?'

Both U.S. and UK governments said the broadcast contained no specific recent details of the conflict which would have proved the 66-year-old despot is still alive after the strike on his bunker early last Thursday.

And adding weight to speculation that body doubles are being used to stand in for Saddam, his appearance was noticeably different from his previous television address four days ago.

Then he looked slightly dazed in military uniform, a black beret and, most unusually, thick-rimmed black glasses.

This time he was still in uniform but looked far more alert and the shape of his neck, eyes and ears all appeared to have changed. His shoulders also seemed to have become more rounded and the beret and glasses had gone.

A U.S. official said they believed Saddam's speech could have been recorded ahead of the war and cut to suit the circumstances.

'He seems to be making reference to some units which haven't even engaged in battle,' the official said.

U.S. Army General Tommy Franks added that the speech must have been recorded several days ago because Saddam seemed to make a number of errors about the whereabouts and actions of his own troops.