Saddam’ urges Iraqis to rise up

DUBAI: An Arabic newspaper splashed Wednesday what it said was Saddam Hussein’s handwritten letter urging the Iraqi people to rise up against US troops who invaded and ousted his regime.

The message to the Iraqi people was dated April 28, the 66th birthday of the former strongman whose whereabouts are unknown, said Abdul Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

Atwan told AFP by telephone that the one-page letter was received by fax from an undetermined location and signed “Saddam Hussein”.

The daily quoted sources close to Saddam confirming that it was his own handwriting and signature.

“The circumstances in which he is living clandestinely do not allow him to do more than put out a written message, given his security considerations,” the sources said.—AFP

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