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BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- A voice purportedly of
former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein asked the US forces to withdraw fromIraq
unconditionally, in a tape aired by Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV channel on
Wednesday.
"We urge you (occupying troops) to withdraw without any conditions," said
the voice.
It also called on the Iraqis to continue resistance against the coalition
forces in "every possible way."
"I'm telling you the good news, Iraqi people...Collapse is starting to eat
the banks and rows of the enemy as fire does dry stalks, and the day when they
cannot even save their military equipments is near," claimed the voice.
The voice told the Iraqis to "tighten the grip and increase attacks on the
enemies to make them lose their balance, by demonstrating, writing on the walls
and claiming your rights."
"Above all are the armed jihad (holy war) and painful hits that make the
heads which are empty of wisdom and faith wake up and surrender to Allah's
order," it added.
"Your (coalition's) withdrawal from our country is inevitable, if not
today, tomorrow," said the alleged former president, who called on Iraqis to
unify and not to listen to "the enemies who want to separate them."
The voice suggested the coalition forces to contact some former leading
Iraqi officials held in custody to guarantee the safety of the soldiers during
withdrawal if they truly "decide to pull out without any conditions imposed on
us."
"We are, my brothers and sons, one nation, born, live and fight as one
nation against the invasion, and we will celebrate the victory that Allah brings
to us as one nation," promised the husky voice, seemingly of a tired or sick
man.
The voice, similar to that of the former president, also demanded the
Iraqis to take the right attitude by either joining the resistance or at least
sincerely praying for them.
"The one who cannot take a positive stand, Allah will prevent his evilness
from reaching us," it said.
Addressing US President George W. Bush "in the name of the greatIraqi
people," he said "you have lied to yourself, your people, andthe whole world,
you and whoever you entangled, or someone has liedto you."
He accused Bush of planning for something evil as "you changed, more than
once, your slogans and reasons which you used as cover for your military
campaign against our country."
The voice was evidently referring to a key speech by President Bush on
Sept. 5, when he announced Iraq had become the central battle front of the
global war on terror.
Washington accused Saddam's regime of possessing and trying to revive
weapons of mass destruction and supporting such terror groups as al-Qaida, all
pretexts for the US-led war on Iraq in March. However, US officials have not
given any concrete evidence on the accusations so far.
The voice also addressed the UN Security Council. "Facts have been
uncovered to you like they have been uncovered to the world about the attempt of
the American administration to play with factsand conceal the scandalous ones,"
it said.
"So we hope that none of the members of the Security Council would slip
into the deep dark holes of the American policy," it added.
"You (the Security Council) should know that the Iraqi people and their
leadership will refuse any resolution to be carried out under invasion," said
the voice.
The United States is pushing for a new UN resolution bidding formore
international support for its occupation in Iraq. But the fresh effort has been
hindered by France which insists on a quick return of Iraqi sovereignty before
it accepts the US-proposed terms.
Several audio tapes claimed to be of Saddam's voice have been released by
Arabiya and Qatar-based al-Jazeera news channel since the former leader was
ousted in April. Enditem
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