New 'Saddam' tape urges defiance

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, September 18, 2003

New 'Saddam' tape urges defiance

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An audiotape purporting to carry the voice of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was broadcast on Arab television Wednesday, calling for Iraqi men and women to step up their fight against the American occupation and calling a US defeat inevitable.

"You mujahedeen, Iraqis and women, increase your attacks on your enemies," the voice said. It sounded like the voice of Saddam, but there was no way to independently verify who was speaking.

The man speaking also called on Iraqis to protest in the streets against occupation, to "beat the walls in protest" and to donate money to the resistance.

The voice called on US forces to withdraw from Iraq immediately.

"We call on you to withdraw your armies as soon as possible and without any conditions or restrictions, because there is no reason for you to suffer more losses, which will be disastrous for the Americans," the tape said, claiming the recording was made in "mid-September."

Speaking to Iraqis, the man purporting to be Saddam said he was bringing good news.

"Now I give you pleasant news. The losses have begun to eat away at the enemy like wildfire... you must increase your grip and armed struggle."

He called on Iraqis to unite against the US-led occupation, saying "we are one people, born as one and we fight as one."

The tape was broadcast by the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite network. The last tape attributed to Saddam was broadcast September 1.

Al-Arabiya news editor Aymen Gaballah said the tape was received yesterday in Baghdad. As usual, he said, someone called the Al-Arabiya office in the Iraqi capital and told them that they had a tape of Saddam.

"They left the tape for us in a nearby place and we collected it," Gaballah said.

He said the tape was aired in its entirety, 14 minutes.

The voice said a US defeat was certain.

"Your withdrawal from our country is inevitable. And tomorrow is not too far away," the voice added, while calling on the United States to negotiate its withdrawal with Iraqi leaders it now holds captive.

He said the UN Security Council should continue shunning American attempts to win international approval for its actions in Iraq.

"To the Security Council, I say that the full truth has been unveiled to you as (it has been) to international public opinion concerning the American administration's attempts to fake facts and hide the figures of its losses. We hope that none of the Security members will fall into the dark traps of America's policy."

Speaking with long pauses between thoughts and with the sound of papers rustling as if reading, the man speaking appeared to experienced ears to be Saddam -sounding very tired.

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