Arab Daily Publishes Letter By Saddam Urging Resistance/islamonline/April 30

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Arab Daily Publishes Letter By Saddam Urging Resistance

DUBAI, April 30 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily frontpaged Wednesday, April 30, what it described as a letter handwritten by ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, urging his people to rise against the Anglo-American occupation forces.

The letter was dated April 28, the 66th birthday of Saddam whose whereabouts remain a mystery, the paper chief editor Abdul Bari Atwan told Agence France-Presse (AFP) over the phone from London.

He added that the one-page letter was received by fax from an undetermined location and signed "Saddam Hussein", adding they contacted sources close to the ousted leader who confirmed it was Saddam’s own handwriting and signature.

"The circumstances in which he is living clandestinely do not allow him to do more than put out a written message, given his security considerations," the sources told the Arab daily.

In the letter attributed to him, Saddam stressed that the victory of the Anglo-American forces "was only possible because of betrayal."

"The traitors have usurped the right to declare openly their treachery even though it is disgraceful."

He warned that he "who has stood against Iraq and conspired against it will not enjoy peace with the Americans."

Saddam exhorted the Iraqi people "to rise up against occupation. Declare openly your rejection of the occupation in the interest of great Iraq, the nation, Islam and humanity."

"Forget everything and fight the occupation. Sin will begin when there are other priorities than the expulsion of the occupier. Remind yourselves that they (occupiers) want Iraq to remain weak to plunder it."

In his alleged letter, Saddam urged the Iraqi people to set aside their differences and stressing that U.S.-installed leaders will not bring them freedom.

"Today the sole priority is the expulsion of the miscreant, murderous and cowardly occupier," he said.

"Greetings to he who struggles, to every honorable Iraqi citizen, to every woman, every child and every old man in our great Iraq. Unite so that the enemy runs from you like all the traitors who came with him.

"It is not a victory as long as your resistance lasts," said Saddam.

He also called on the Iraqi people to "Boycott the occupier. It's a duty towards Islam and the nation."

Saddam promised them that the "day of liberation and victory will come ... Once again, right will triumph. The coming days will be better."

"Iraq will emerge victorious as will the honorable people of the nation. We will recover the archaeological treasures they stole. We will rebuild the Iraq they want to divide."

On April 18, Abu Dhabi TV aired what it said was footage of Saddam being feted in a Baghdad neighborhood on April 9, the day the capital fell to U.S. forces, and his "last speech" which it said had not been broadcast before.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi on Tuesday, April 29, published a letter from a previously unknown group calling itself Iraqi Resistance and Liberation which said Saddam was still alive and would deliver a message to his country within three days.