TV station broadcasts another 'Saddam' tape calling for expulsion of US forces

AN audiotape purporting to carry the voice of Saddam Hussein calling for Iraqi men and women to step up their fight against the American occupation and calling a US defeat inevitable, was broadcast yesterday.

"You mujahedeen, Iraqis and women, increase your attacks on your enemies," the voice said on Arab satellite TV. It sounded like Saddam's, but there was no way to independently verify who was speaking.

The voice also called on Iraqis to protest in the streets against occupation, to "beat the walls in protest" and to donate money to the resistance.

The voice called on US 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.

Speaking to Iraqis, Saddam said he was bringing good news.

"Now I give you pleasant news. The losses have begun to eat away at the enemy like wildfire. You must increase your grip and armed struggle."

He called on Iraqis to unite against the US-led occupation, saying: "We are one people, born as one and we fight as one". The tape was broadcast by the Dubai-based al-Arabiya satellite network. The last tape attributed to Saddam was broadcast on September 1.

Al-Arabiya news editor Aymen Gaballah said the tape was received in Baghdad yesterday.

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 US defeat was certain.

"Your withdrawal from our country is inevitable. And tomorrow is not too far away," said the voice, calling on the US to negotiate its withdrawal with Iraqi leaders which it holds captive.

He said the UN Security Council should continue shunning US attempts to win international approval for its Iraq actions.

Speaking with long pauses between thoughts, the voice sounded to experienced ears to be that of Saddam and sounded very tired.