Saddam tape attacks UK and US

A tape recording, purportedly to be of Saddam Hussein, was broadcast by a Gulf TV station today, with the deposed Iraqi dictator saying British and US weapons of mass destruction claims are “baseless”.

The tape was played on the anniversary of the 1968 Baathist revolution, with Saddam criticising the newly-formed Iraqi governing council and calling for resistance to the US occupation.

“How can the people benefit from employees named by the foreign occupiers,” said the voice, part of which was played on Al-Arabiya television.

“What can those named by the foreign occupier offer to the people and the nation other than the will of the occupier.”

The tape appeared to be new, as the Governing Council was only established on Sunday.

“The occupiers have unveiled their intentions to occupy and divide Iraq. All their allegations were baseless,” said the voice.

The US military said it was treating the day, the anniversary of the 1968 Baathist revolution that brought Saddam’s political party to power, like any other.

About the only thing out on Baghdad’s streets today were the rumours: one that Saddam would make some sort of appearance after weeks in hiding, and the other that he had finally been captured by US forces.

Saddam and his two sons, Uday and Qusay, have not been seen since the capital fell in April, though he has been heard on several audiotapes calling for attacks on US and British troops in recent weeks.

The 1968 coup led to Saddam taking power 11 years later. Iraq’s new Governing Council, in its first act this week, swept aside the July 17 celebration and five other dates that the Baath Party used to mark as official holidays.