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`Saddam letter` threatens foreigners in Iraq, attacks abroad
Dubai, June 13: Saddam Hussein, whose fate is unknown, has issued an ultimatum to foreigners to leave Iraq and threatened attacks in countries and on planes of the US-led coalition, in a letter purportedly signed by him to be published tomorrow in the pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi.
Dubai, June 13: Saddam Hussein, whose fate is unknown, has issued an ultimatum to foreigners to leave Iraq and threatened attacks in countries and on planes of the US-led coalition, in a letter purportedly signed by him to be published tomorrow in the pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi.
"We warn all foreign citizens and those who came with the cowardly occupiers ... To leave Iraq," said the letter, a copy of which was made available to a news agency.
It said they should leave "before next June 17," an indication of a possible mistake in the date, which is more likely to be July 17, anniversary of the 1968 coup that brought Saddam's now deposed Baath party to power, according to al-Quds al-Arabi editor Abdul Bari Atwan.
"We will not be responsible for the consequences that might happen after that," the letter said.
"This is the first stage of the resistance that will include the forces of Denmark and Poland and other infidels," in addition to US and British forces, the ousted Iraqi leader purportedly said in the handwritten letter faxed to the London-based newspaper.
"If they do not leave before this stage ends, we will be entitled to shift our defence to their countries and their airplanes," he said.
The authenticity of the letter, the fifth to be published by al-Quds al-Arabi since Saddam was toppled by the US-led coalition in April, could not be confirmed.
It came as US troops pressed at least three massive operations across north-central Iraq after taking a spate of casualties in recent weeks in attacks attributed to Saddam loyalists.
Bureau Report
It said they should leave "before next June 17," an indication of a possible mistake in the date, which is more likely to be July 17, anniversary of the 1968 coup that brought Saddam's now deposed Baath party to power, according to al-Quds al-Arabi editor Abdul Bari Atwan.
"We will not be responsible for the consequences that might happen after that," the letter said.
"This is the first stage of the resistance that will include the forces of Denmark and Poland and other infidels," in addition to US and British forces, the ousted Iraqi leader purportedly said in the handwritten letter faxed to the London-based newspaper.
"If they do not leave before this stage ends, we will be entitled to shift our defence to their countries and their airplanes," he said.
The authenticity of the letter, the fifth to be published by al-Quds al-Arabi since Saddam was toppled by the US-led coalition in April, could not be confirmed.
It came as US troops pressed at least three massive operations across north-central Iraq after taking a spate of casualties in recent weeks in attacks attributed to Saddam loyalists.
Bureau Report