Voice of ‘Saddam Hussein’ denies ordering Najaf bombing
Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera broke into programming to play the tape in which the deposed dictator denied his involvement in the Friday attack that killed at least 100 people, including revered Shiite cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim.
"Maybe many of you have heard the hiss of the snakes, the servants of the occupiers, how they accused us without any evidence of killing of al-Hakim," the voice said. Al-Jazeera did not broadcast the tape in its entirety. In the tape Saddam said he was the leader of all Iraqi people, suggesting he would not launch an attack on any particular ethnic or religious group Shiites included. "Saddam Hussein is not the leader of a minority or a group within a group. He is the leader of the great Iraqi people," the voice said. During his rule, Saddam drew most of his support from Sunni Muslims, a minority that oppressed the Shi'ite majority for decades.
The last audiotape purportedly from Saddam was broadcast August 1. On that tape, the speaker said the former leader would "at any moment" defeat the American occupation forces and return to power. That tape also said looters of government property should not worry about retribution from Saddam and instead should join the guerrilla war as "a loaded rifle in the face of the invading foreigner."
Quoting the Koran, the voice said: "Ye believers, if a corrupt person brought you news, check it well before accusing arbitrarily. Otherwise, you will regret your accusation."
Many in Najaf have laid blame for the bombing with Saddam loyalists.
While police officials have said they have 19 suspects in custody, many of them foreigners, and all with alleged al-Qaida terrors.
It was not possible to immediately determine if the tape was authentic.
