Kuwaitis young and old and from across the country's political spectrum turned out en masse in a rally organised by the Lawyers' Association.

Many waved their national flag and called for the "liberation" of the Iraqi people and an end to Saddam's rule.

"Many claim to be brothers but when needed they are few," read one banner while another said "the freedom of the Iraqis is our duty as Arabs".

Nineteen-year-old Nauf al-Matrood told AFP she had turned up to support "my government and Kuwait and to say that we want to free the Iraqi people from Saddam.

"We think this is the right way. Other Arabs say Kuwait is a bad country and supports Americans, but Americans supported us when we needed them," she said in reference to the 1991 Gulf War to liberate Kuwait after its seven-month occupation by Iraq.

"We want Saddam killed but not the Iraqi people," Matrood said, flanked by five siblings, her father and aunt.

At the centre of the demonstration in the capital, young Kuwaitis waved a 30-meter (yard) long flag while nationalistic speeches blared out of speakers.

"They send us missiles, we send them humanitarian aid. They burn our oil wells, we extinguish theirs," said one speaker, a member of the students' union.

Iraq has fired some 18 missiles at the emirate since the war on Iraq was launched. Only one landed in the city, causing limited damage to a shopping mall.

The demonstrators applauded and cheered while women ululated throughout the speeches which expressed uncompromising support for their country and the ruling Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah.

"I'm here to say to the Arab people and the whole world, that Kuwaiti people are with their government," said Shuaib al-Hajeri, a 20-year-old student.

"Before that though, we're with the Iraqi peoeple. Saddam killed a lot of people, if there's any way to help the Iraqi people, we're with it," he said.

Dalia Abdullah al-Qabandi, draped in patriotic paraphernalia, told AFP she was demonstrating in favour of Kuwait and Iraq's freedom, and to show the world "we're not afraid of Iraq."

"Kuwait is a peaceful country, it never wanted war, except this one. We want an end to Saddam because he threatened us for 12 years. But we're with the Iraqi people," she said.

While the rest of the Arab world has largely condemned the US-led campaign against Iraq, Kuwait, which is serving as the main launch pad for the war, has made little secret of its desire to see the back of Saddam.

SPACE.WIRE