But he did not appear on television himself and his statement was read by Mr al-Sahaf.

ECONOMIST: Punching through to Baghdad

"Be sure that Baghdad is safe and secure and our great people are strong, " Sahaf added.

CNN: Sahaf: U.S. troops will be burned

Saddam's information minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, was also nowhere to be seen on Wednesday.

ECONOMIST: Saddam's regime topples

Al-Sahaf said he would take reporters to the airport later in the day, after it was cleaned up.

CNN: Information minister: Iraq still controls airport

"Americans are now in disarray, " Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said on Al-Jazeera television Thursday.

CNN: Iraq says Baghdad will be coalition's graveyard

Iraqi Information Minister Mohamed Saeed al Sahaf told the Arabic television network Al-Jazeera Tuesday there was no revolt under way.

CNN: UK: Iraq to feel backlash in Basra

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf said that U.S.-led forces have not crossed the Tigris River and are not approaching Baghdad.

CNN: Iraqi official: U.S. lying about progress

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf refused to confirm details of the document's contents, but said that a deal had been reached.

BBC: Iraq and Kuwait 'settle differences'

Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf has demanded that the summit support his country's demands for an end to both U.N. sanctions and U.S. and British air patrols over Iraq.

CNN: Iraq divides Arab world

Al-Sahaf, speaking mostly in English for the first time since the war began, issued a list of civilian areas he said the coalition had bombarded, enumerating casualties in villages and neighborhoods.

CNN: Iraqi official: U.S. lying about progress