‘Saddam’ tape warns of more US deaths

AS the US death toll in Iraq climbed to 417 over the weekend, an Arab television network last night broadcast a purported audio tape by fugitive dictator Saddam Hussein warning of more deaths for US-led troops.

In the northern city of Mosul, US soldiers retrieved wreckage and bodies after two Black Hawk helicopters collided and crashed under fire on Saturday night, killing 17 soldiers in the bloodiest single incident for US forces since they invaded Iraq.

Facing a mounting death toll in Iraq, Washington has moved to speed the transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis in the hope of pacifying resentment toward the occupation, and the US Army has adopted new tougher tactics to strike back at guerrillas.