New Saddam tape calls for uprising

A tape recording purporting to be Saddam Hussein calling for an uprising against US and British troops in Iraq was played by two Arab TV stations today.

“I appeal to you, O Iraqis, Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, Shia or Sunni, Christians or Muslims, it is your duty to expel the aggressor invaders from our country,” the tape said, according to a transmission by Lebanon’s Al Hayat-LBC channel.

The voice on the tape, which sounded like Saddam to journalists familiar with the fallen dictator, quoted him as delivering instructions for resistance to the US and British forces.

“Unify your ranks and act as one hand,” the voice said. “Boycott the occupying soldiers. Act and do not let the occupying forces settle down in your land.”

“He who favours division over unity, and acts to divide ranks instead of unifying them, is not only a servant of the foreign occupier but he is also the enemy of God and the people,” the purported voice of Saddam said, according to the broadcast by Al-Jazeera satellite television, which is based in Qatar.

“Go on, you Iraqis, as victory is near, God willing,” the voice said on Al-Jazeera.

It was not immediately clear if the tapes broadcast by Al-Jazeera and Al Hayat-LBC were identical.

One journalist who heard extracts from both broadcasts said they appeared to be the same recording.

Al-Jazeera broadcast a tape on July 4 that CIA analysts said was “most likely” the voice of Saddam.

The wording on the tapes broadcast today was similar to the July 4 tape, but both TV stations said they were new tapes.

An Al-Jazeera producer said he could not say how or when today’s tape was received.

The station said Friday’s tape was played to it down a telephone line, which helped to explain its poor quality.