Arab satellite TV broadcasts 'Saddam tape'

An Arabic satellite TV channel broadcast an audio tape today that it said was allegedly recorded by Saddam Hussein.

The voice on the tape ordered former Iraqi soldiers to rise up against the occupying American forces.

But it made no mention of the deaths of his two sons Uday and Qusay, who the US military said were killed yesterday in a gun battle in Mosul.

The tape, which was played by Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV, was dated July 20.

“We tell our armed forces and our people that if America has achieved military superiority, it will not achieve supremacy in the battle of wills against the Iraqi people,” said the voice on the tape, which sounded like Saddam.

“Today I speak in particular to your military honour and appeal to the promise you made to the nation and to the people,” it said.

There was no way to immediately confirm whether it was the former dictator.

“On April 11 and 12, we started to reorganise the (Baath) party and people to resist the enemy, and we were in contact with the men of the armed forces,” the voice said. The Americans captured Baghdad on April 9.

“News of you, the men of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, reaches me,” the tape said. “I am pleased when I hear that you are carrying out these honourable Jihad operations side by side with the brother Mujahedeen.”