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Iraqi volunteers marched through Baghdad on Saturday in a parade honouring President Saddam Hussein who celebrates his 61st birthday later this month.
The march was part of celebrations throughout Iraq which were billed as an act of defiance against the United States.
The marchers were members of a huge paramilitary force that was established earlier this year during a standoff with the United Nations over weapons inspections.
Senior officials from Iraq's ruling Baath Party and the government watched the march from a platform in the Grand Celebrations Square in Baghdad.
Other dignitaries and foreign diplomats also attended the parade to honour the sixty-first birthday of Saddam Hussein which is on April 28.
Iraqi officials claimed that 120-thousand people took part in the march.
Most were members of a paramilitary force set up during the recent dispute with the United Nations over weapons inspections.
The march lasted six-hours and was broadcast on state-run television.
Iraqi officials claimed that some 3 (m) million people took part in marches around the country.
It was only interrupted for a short time when Saddam performed his afternoon prayers.
The volunteers have been training for the last three months and were joined in the parade by disabled soldiers from the Iran-Iraq war.
The force is made up of both men and women civilians.
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