In his second television address since the outbreak of war, Iraq President Saddam Hussein on Monday asked his people to be patient and promised them a victory over the United States and its allies.

Saddam, who was wearing an olive green military dress, quoted extensively from Islamic scriptures and urged his commanders to wage a jihad against the 'infidels'.

"The people of Iraq are showing bravery and God Almighty will give us victory against the enemy. The enemy will increase its bombardment but we will be victorious," he said in the 15-minute broadcast.

"They are in a dilemma; they are in trouble now. Hate them and strike them."

He mentioned his commanders defending key areas and praised them.

"Martyrs will be rewarded. The God has promised us that those who die will go to the heaven. He has also promised us that he will support his soldiers and we will win over the enemies. God is our witness, so strike against evil," he said.

"Long live Iraq; long live Palestine," he said concluding the address.

An hour later, Iraqi TV showed pictures of a downed US Apache helicopter near Karbala, around 80km south of Baghdad, but the fate of the pilots was not known. The US Central Command confirmed that one of its helicopters was missing.

American helicopters had targeted a division of the Republican Guards at Karbala on Sunday.

On Monday, US jets attacked Chamchamal -- a town controlled by Kurdish forces -- in the northern part of the country, according to BBC.