BAGHDAD, March 16 Kyodo Iraqi Pre...

BAGHDAD, March 16 Kyodo

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein inflict the nation on a war footing Saturday with the highest decision-making carcass issuing a decree on defending the political division from foreign aggression.

The Revolutionary Command Council divided the nation into four military districts with Saddam as the first commander.

Saddam's other son Qusay was put in charge of Baghdad and about other central areas.

The actuate came on the eve of a summit through U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in the Azores Islands upon Sunday as part of eleventh-hour efforts to memorize a resolution authorizing war upon Iraq adopted by the UN Security Council.

Iraq, meanwhile, issued an invitation to top UN arms inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic force Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei to visit the rural parts as soon as possible in a last-ditch effort in succession its part to avert attacks onward its soil.

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