Baghdad, July 04: A voice purported to be Saddam Hussein's aired on Al-Jazeera TV today, with the ousted dictator saying he is still in Iraq and vowing more attacks on Americans. ``I am still present in Iraq along with a group of (former Iraqi) leaders,'' said the voice on the tape, which was recorded on June 14.
There was no immediate way to confirm the tape's authenticity but those who know Saddam's voice said it sounded identical. The audiotape appeared a day after Washington put a $25 million bounty on Saddam and offered $15 million for information leading to the capture of either of his sons, Uday and Qusay.
Claiming credit for armed attacks on US occupation forces in Iraq, the voice, addressing Iraqis, said, ``Oh brothers and sisters, I relay to you good news: Jihad (holy war) cells and brigades have been formed.'' He urged Iraqis to assist the resistance groups fighting US troops.
On the quick collapse of his regime, the voice purported to be Saddam's said, ``We have sacrificed the government. But we will not sacrifice our principles or surrender.'' Bureau Report