Saddam Hussein told the American people last night that he would rather die than go into exile.

In a 90-minute interview with CBS news, the Iraqi leader ignored UN demands to destroy his arsenal of al-Samoud II missiles.

He said: "Whoever decides to forsake his nation at the request of another is not true to his principles. We will die here. We will die in this country and we will maintain our honour, the honour that is required, in front of our people."