A senior Iraqi official made a televised address tonight which he said was from the Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, calling for Muslims to join in a holy war against the coalition invasion.
Earlier today, Iraqi state television had said President Saddam would make the address personally but it was delivered instead by his information minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf.
The statement said: ”The aggression that the aggressors are carrying out against the stronghold of faith is an aggression on the religion, the wealth, the honour and the soul and an aggression on the land of Islam. Therefore, jihad [holy war] is a duty in confronting them.”
President Saddam added that ”those who are martyred will be rewarded in heaven. Seize the opportunity, my brothers”.
The statement was issued as US forces were reportedly within 50 miles of Baghdad and as B52 bombers were pounding Republican Guard positions north of Kerbala.
President Saddam has delivered two televised addresses since the attack began on March 20. It was unclear why he did not appear in person, particularly as rumours persist about his health. ”Strike at them, fight them,” President Saddam’s statement said. ”They are aggressors, evil, accursed by God. You shall be victorious and they shall be vanquished.”
Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister called for an end to the war, urging President Saddam to step down to spare Iraq more bloodshed.
Blunkett: War has raised terror threat
Britain is in danger of simultaneous terrorist attacks on it and the US because of the two countries alliance in the war with Iraq, the home secretary David Blunkett warned tonight.
Speaking in Washington, where he had held joint talks with the US director of homeland security, Tom Ridge, Blunkett announced a new joint working group between the home office and Ridge’s department to combat international terrorism.
Blunkett said: ”Because of the conflict with Iraq we need to be more vigilant.” He added though that there was now ”unprecedented cooperation” between London and Washington. Ridge said the meeting was to share ideas and examples of ”best practice”. – Guardian Unlimited Â