Witnesses, who refused to be named, told AFP they had seen the Iraqi leader in the Al-Mansour district of the capital in the early afternoon while the scenes were being filmed.

Saddam appeared in olive green military garb on the main square in Al-Mansour, flanked by just a few bodyguards but packing a firearm in a holster.

The footage, filmed in daylight, was broadcast at about 9:20 pm (1720 GMT).

Smiling broadly, the Iraqi strongman accepted several kisses on his hand from the ecstatic crowd, which chanted "With our blood and our souls, we shall redeem you" and "Bush, Bush, listen well, we all love Saddam Hussein."

Some punched the air with their fists, while others hoisted assault rifles.

Saddam at one stage took a young girl into his arms and kissed her cheek while the crowd cheered.

In the al-Aazamiya district, the second stop on his tour, Saddam climbed up on a metallic blue car to get a better view of the throngs of admirers.

Fans pushed his bodyguards away to embrace their leader, who was joined by his personal secretary Abed Hmoud.

The broadcast came shortly after Saddam delivered a speech on state television calling on Iraqis to repel US forces closing in on the capital, following news that American troops had captured Saddam International Airport on Baghdad's doorstep.

"Hit them with the power of faith wherever they come near you, and resist, oh brave inhabitants of Baghdad," the Iraqi leader said, reading out his message in a solemn tone.

"God willing, you will be victorious and they will be defeated," said Saddam, who last gave a televised speech on March 24.

SPACE.WIRE