President Saddam Hussein yesterday promised the Palestinians one billion euros from Iraqi oil sales to support their uprising against Israeli occupation. Saddam told the Palestinians he would have preferred to send troops to defend them instead.

"By God, if Iraq had an opening you would have by your side tremendous armies that would be merciful among you but tough on the infidels," he said in a message to the Palestinian people carried by the official Iraqi News Agency (INA).

The agency said a joint meeting of the Revolutionary Command Council and the regional command of the ruling Baath Party chaired by Saddam decided to allocate the money from oil revenues over the next year.

It said 300 million euros would be spent to help families of Palestinians killed in the revolt and treatment of the wounded. INA said 700 million euros would be allocated to buy food and medicine for the Palestinians.