NICOSIA Ñ Iraq says the U.S. Navy is tightening the embargo on the regime of President Saddam Hussein in preparation for an attack by Washington and its British ally.

Both U.S. and Gulf sources report that Washington is preparing a major attack on Iraqi military installations.

Iraqi officials said U.S. warships are intercepting ships headed for Iraq through the Persian Gulf, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the ships include regular lines from such Gulf Cooperation Council states as Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, Iraqi State Minister of Foreign Affairs Naji Sabri said the Saddam regime will defend Baghdad against any U.S. or British attack.

Iraqi Undersecretary of Transportation Sabri Katie said Washington wants to stop supplies from reaching Baghdad. Katie said the U.S. Navy operations will force Baghdad to establish alternative routes for imports.

One such route will be through the Syrian port of Tartus. Imports of Iraq will enter Syria and reach Iraq overland.

"Iraq will defend itself with all its power and by all means," Sabri said. "The Iraqis will not hesitate to use all means at their disposal to defend their homeland and its sovereignty, and that is a right guaranteed by international laws."

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