An Arab television station on Thursday broadcast an audiotape that it claimed came from the deposed Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein.
In the tape, the speaker reported to be Saddam Hussein described as "baseless" US and British allegations of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
"The occupiers have unveiled their intentions to occupy and divide Iraq. All their allegations were baseless," said the voice on the tape broadcast by Al Arabiya satellite TV.
He vowed that resistance against US occupation would intensify. The speaker hailed Iraqi towns where US troops have repeatedly come under attack and accused Iraqi officials named by the US-led administration to the newly-established Iraqi Governing Council of being "servants" of the American occupier.
"How can the people benefit from employees named by the foreign occupiers," said the voice on the tape. "What can those named by the foreign occupier offer to the people and the nation other than the will of the occupier."
The council was "made by the will of the foreigners, therefore it is the servant of the foreigner and not a servant of the people."
"The occupier has occupied in order to weaken Iraq and destroy it's will, and therefore, anything issued by occupation is to weaken Iraq. The only solution...is a jihad (holy war) to resist the occupation," said the voice.
The broadcast coincided with the 35th anniversary of the Baath Party's rise to power. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
