Photo: The purported voice of Saddam Hussein was broadcast on Al-Arabiya television Wednesday, accompanied by this file photo of the ousted Iraqi dictator.
Sept. 17, 2003
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAGHDAD, Iraq, — An audiotape purporting to carry the voice of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein was broadcast on Arab television Wednesday, calling for Iraqi men and women to step up their fight against the American occupation.
“YOU MUJAHEDEEN, Iraqis and women, increase your attacks on your enemies,” the voice said. It sounded to be that of Saddam, but there was no way to independently verify who The voice also called on Iraqis to protest against occupation in the streets, to “beat the walls in protest” and to donate money to the resistance.
The voice called on U.S. 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 voice said, claiming the recording was made in “mid-September.”
The last purported Saddam tape was broadcast on Sept. 1 by the Al-Jazeera television network, and the CIA said it was likely authentic.
As it aired the new tape on Wednesday, Al-Arabiya showed a file photograph of Saddam.
“Oh Iraqi people, I am telling you the good news,” the speaker said. “The fatigue is eating into the enemy’s ranks.”
PLEA TO U.N.
Al-Arabiya news editor Aymen Gaballah said the tape was received Wednesday 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 U.S. defeat was certain.
“Your withdrawal from our country is inevitable. And tommorow is not too far away,” said the voice, calling on the United States to negotiate its withdrawal with Iraqi leaders it holds captive.
He said the U.N. 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 message, the voice sounded to experience ears to be that of Saddam — who sounded very tired.
U.S. forces in Iraq have been plagued by guerrilla attacks blamed on Saddam followers since the Iraqi leader was ousted in April, hampering efforts to rebuild the country.
In an interview published Wednesday, the commander of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, told The Times newspaper in London that American soldiers now also face revenge attacks from ordinary Iraqis angered by the occupation.
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