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"SADDAM 'FIGHTING AMERICANS'"

Middle East Online

First Published 2003-05-28

“Ousted Iraqi leader urges Iraqis to resist US, British forces as Iraqi resistance group claims Fallujah attack.

Saddam Hussein has claimed to be "fighting the Americans" and appealed for resistance against the US and British forces that ousted him last month, according to a letter attributed to the deposed Iraqi president, received by Middle East Online.

The statement said the so-called "General Command of the Iraqi Armed, Resistance and Liberation Forces" claimed responsibility for an ambush which was confirmed to have killed two US soldiers and wounded nine others in the Iraqi city of Fallujah earlier in the day.

The statement said the attack was carried out by "special forces, al-Faruq Brigades, and members of the Baath Party" that ruled Iraq until its ouster by the US-led coalition on April 9.

(...) The US Central Command said two of the assailants were also killed when US troops returned fire from an unknown number of guerrillas who attacked with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and small arms in Fallujah, a stronghold of Saddam supporters 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad.

Witnesses said that RPG fire also brought down a US helicopter, while Centcom said the chopper was struck by an armored vehicle as it was trying to get into firing position.

The claim of responsibility posted on the website spoke of "downing a US aircraft and killing its four crew."

It also said that the al-Faruq Brigades, "the armed wing of the Islamic resistance in Iraq," killed a US soldier in Baghdad.

In the letter attributed to Saddam and dubbed his "fourth handwritten letter" since he was ousted, the former Iraqi strongman called for more attacks against Americans.

"As we fight and ensnare the cowardly American and British enemy, we urge you to ... boycott anyone installed by the criminal invading forces to run any area of government," said Saddam's message to "mujahedeen everywhere, the courageous sons of the Arab nation, and members of the Arab Baath Socialist Party."

"Brethren in jihad (holy war), we call on you to expel all traitors who supported the occupation or came in its trail and who call themselves Iraqis," it said.

"Make every American and Briton feel that he will live on Arab land in fear and terror so long as they do not withdraw from Iraq and change their position on the criminal Zionist occupation of Arab Palestine," it added.

The message, dated May 25, saluted "the courageous sons of Iraq resisting the occupier."

"Long live the al-Faruq Brigades, long live the men of the army waging honorable guerrilla warfare, long live members of the Arab Baath Socialist Party, long live Iraq's woman mujahedeen."

The London-based Arabic daily al-Quds al-Arabi has published three letters attributed to Saddam, whose whereabouts are unknown, since his overthrow.

 

 

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