Baghdad warns 'little Bush' he will hit 'impregnable fortress'

Baghdad/Washington (Agencies): Baghdad warned U.S. President. George W. Bush on Friday he would come across an ''impregnable fortress" if he made good on his threats to attack Iraq in a bid to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.

The little Bush must get it into his head that Iraq is united and stands as a.n impregnable fortress," said Ath-Thawra, mouthpiece of the ruling Baath Party.

With a glorious past at which to look back, the Iraqi people will remain united behind their chosen and historic leader, Saddam Hussein the paper said, adding that washington's''psychological warfare" against Baghdad would prove useless.

But iraqi authorities were naim on a raid by U.S. and British warplanes that a London newspaper reported was the biggest single operation over the country in four years. Officials kept silent and the state press limited itself to carrying a statement by a military spokesman who said Thursday's raid targeted civilian installations southwest of Baghdad without causing casualties.

The Iraqi spokesman said the fighter jets flew back to their bases in Kuwait after corning under Iraqi anti-aircraft and missile fire.

According to London's Daily Telegraph, about 100 U.S. and British aircraft took part in an attack on a major Iraqi air defense installation which appeared to be a prelude to possible special forces operations before any U.S.-led war on Iraq.

The aim of the raid seemed to be the removal of air defenses to allow easy access fur special forces helicopters to fly into Iraq via Jordan or Saudi Arabia to hunt down Scud missiles before a possible war within the next few months, the Telegraph reported.

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, gearing up for talks on Iraq with U.S. President George W. Bush, said he was prepared for Britain to pay "a blood price" to maintain its special relationship with the United States.

In comments likely to fuel speculation of British involvement in any military action against Iraq, Blair said it was important the Americans knew they could count on Britain for more than expressions of sympathy and support in a crisis.

In Washington, President George W. Bush telephoned leaders of China, Russia and France on Friday in hopes of softening their opposition to ousting President Saddam Hussein, but he made little noticeable progress.

In a series of cursory calls from the Oval Office, Bush talked for a total of 30 minutes with Presidents Jacques Chirac of France, Jiang Zemin of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia. Each could use their votes on the United Nations Security Council to veto resolutions aimed at Saddam.

Chirac wasn't convinced by Bush's call, repeating his long-standing position that any military action against Baghdad should be decided by the UN Security Council, said Catherine Colonna, a Chirac spokeswoman.

Putin. talked to Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has emerged as Bush's closest ally on Iraq.

Putin expressed his "serious doubts" on Friday about the arguments that Washington has presented for striking Iraq during telephone talks with U.S. President George W, Bush, the Kremlin said.