Fri Nov 8, 8:34 AM ET

By Samia Nakhoul

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi preachers launched fierce attacks on the United States and Britain at Friday prayers, urging Muslims to rise up in a Jihad against the "infidels and crusaders" and saying a war on Iraq would be a war on Islam.

Mosques across Baghdad dedicated sermons to tongue-lashing the two countries who were seeking United Nations approval later on Friday for a tough resolution that gives Iraq a last chance to disarm or face war.

"(U.S. President George W.) Bush: who are you, you little dwarf, to threaten (the prophet) Mohammad and the sons of Mohammad?," demanded Sheikh Bakr Abdelrazzak Samaraei at the Mother of All Battles mosque, before thousands of people. ["Mother of All Battles mosque" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

"Who are you, perverts of the world? Who are you sons of monkeys and pigs, to threaten the nation of Mohammad?

"Today...the Jihad is a must for every Muslim. By God, we will defy you with our words and then our arms.... By God, we will defeat you and wipe you out," the preacher declared.

The outburst came ahead of voting at the U.N. Security Council on a resolution which threatens Iraq with "serious consequences" if it does not cooperate with U.N. inspectors searching for suspected weapons of mass destruction.

The new resolution, co-sponsored by Britain, still leaves Washington free to attack Iraq without a second resolution authorising the use of force. Iraq has said such a resolution amounts to a declaration of war.

Sheikh Samaraei said the United States had consistently provoked Muslim feelings by supporting Israel's occupation of Jerusalem, threatening Arabs and Muslims and deploying U.S. troops in the Arabian peninsula.

"We keep our promise to you God, we will fight them with all our weapons. We call you for the Jihad, the Jihad, the Jihad. Rise up you nation of the Koran, nation of Mohammad, nation of Muslims to defend the sanctity of Mohammad..."

He urged worshippers to rely on God "to confront the provocations of the infidels, the crusaders, the Jews, the Americans and the British who are defying God."

At the Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad, the cleric made a similar call for Jihad. "If we have faith in God, neither America nor the world can defeat us," he said.

"Oh God! keep all evil, ordeals, misfortunes and discord away from Iraq. Preserve the land of Iraq from the conspiracies of the oppressors."

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2002