Washington, Apr 02: The United States has condemned as "dreadfully irresponsible" calls from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and others for Muslims around the world to
unite in a holy war, or jihad, to defend Iraq.
"These exhortations to violence, suicide bombings and
what-not are dreadfully irresponsible," deputy State
Department spokesman Philip Reeker said.
"Suicide bombings only lead to one assured outcome and
that is the death of the perpetrator," he told reporters.
"And so, the violence that these people are calling for
is not going to accomplish anything. We are going to move
ahead with our operation Iraqi freedom and give back Iraq to
the Iraqi people," Reeker said.
His comments came in response to a speech from Saddam
read on television by his information minister Mohammed Sayeed
al-Sahhaf in which the Iraqi leader said holy war, or jihad,
was a "duty" for Arabs and Muslims and called the US-led
war an attack on "religion, property, people and honor."
Earlier Tuesday in Baghdad, Iraqi vice president
Taha Yassin Ramadan told reporters that more than 3,000 Arab
volunteers were in Iraq and ready to carry out suicide
missions against the US-led coalition.
Bureau Report
