Saddam vows to become martyr for Palestine and Iraq

SADDAM Hussein has vowed to sacrifice himself for the cause of Palestine and Iraq in a letter.

He also urged Arabs to follow his path and used language implying he would become a martyr for the Arab cause.

The letter, published in two Jordanian newspapers, was allegedly delivered through the International Committee of the Red Cross to an old friend now living in Jordan. Those who made it public said the man refused to be identified. It was believed to have been the first letter since Saddam was captured in December 2003 sent to someone other than a family member.

“My soul and my existence is to be sacrificed for our precious Palestine and our beloved, patient and suffering Iraq,” the letter said.

Tayseer Homsi, secretary general of the Jordanian Arab Ba’ath Socialist Party, said the missive was delivered through the ICRC to an “independent Jordanian political figure who wished to remain anonymous”.

The ICRC said it was checking on the authenticity of the letter, according to Iraq delegation spokeswoman, Rana Sidani, based in Amman. Saddam and other such political detainees to whom the ICRC has access are only allowed to write letters to family members.

Saddam was expected to stand trial in Iraq this autumn on charges that could bring the death penalty. His letter appeared to include his musings on that possible fate.

“Life is meaningless without the considerations of faith, love and inherited history in our nation,” the letter said.

“It is not much for a man to support his nation with his soul and all he commands because it deserves it since it has given us life in the name of God and allowed us to inherit the best,” he wrote in what appeared a clear call to Arabs to follow his footsteps.

“My brother, love your people, love Palestine, love your nation, long live Palestine,” the document concluded.

The Jordanian Ba’ath party, which publicised the letter and espouses ideology similar to Saddam’s now-defunct Ba’ath party, has no links to Iraq. Mr Homsi, the party secretary general, said the letter’s recipient gave his party a copy of the letter two days ago.