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New 'Saddam' tape urges resistance
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An audiotape purportedly recorded this week by deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein calls on the people of Iraq to reject the "invaders," while promising that victory is coming. "I am talking to you from inside great Iraq," the voice on the tape says, "and I say to you, the main task for you, Arab and Kurd, Shia and Sunni, Muslim and Christian and the whole Iraqi people of all religions, your main task is to kick the enemy out from our country." There was no way to authenticate that the tape was made this week, nor could it be immediately proven that the speaker on the tape was Saddam. According to a story in Wednesday's edition of the Sydney Morning Herald, two men on Monday gave the tape to the newspaper's reporters in Baghdad. (Full story) "The tape came into our hands pretty much by luck," Herald reporter Ed O'Loughlin told CNN. "I didn't smell a setup. These were not people trying to sell a story for money. They weren't even particularly interested in talking to me. They were just trying to get directions [to the Palestine Hotel]." The men hurriedly drove away after giving the tape to the Herald, saying it was the latest speech by Saddam, reportedly recorded Monday morning. The tape does make reference to recent events, including the celebration of Saddam's 66th birthday April 28. It also says: "Iraqi people, great Iraqi people -- women and men, and the Iraqi armed forces and all people who want to change their attitude about their enemies -- peace be upon you all," the tape said. "I don't want to talk in details about the occupation and why and how, and I am going to focus on how to face these invaders and kick them out from Iraq." Author Simon Henderson, who has written a biography of Saddam, told CNN he believed the voice on tape was "probably not" the former Iraqi president. "I make the assumption that Saddam is alive because I cannot prove he is dead. If he is alive, I suspect he is in Iraq," he said. "Tapes like this are an embarrassment to the Americans and British. But they also present a political danger because they could garner resistance -- they could provide a focus for opposition to the American occupation of Iraq and the transference over to an Iraqi government." Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that about $1 billion was taken from Iraq's Central Bank by Saddam and his family, just hours before the United States began bombing Iraq. Spokesman Richard Boucher said the government did not know yet where the cash might have ended up, and U.S. agents are hunting down these and other "assets stolen by the regime." "We do know from Treasury Department officials in Baghdad that approximately $1 billion was taken from the Iraqi Central Bank by Saddam Hussein and his family just prior to the start of combat operations," Boucher told reporters. "We'll actively follow up on all the leads," he said. George Mullinax, a U.S. Treasury Department official in Iraq to oversee the rebuilding of the country's economy, said the withdrawal took place March 18. He said his main sources of information were Iraqi banking officials. (Full story) Fears have been raised that the money is helping finance ex-senior members of Saddam's government, many of whom are believed to be in hiding in Iraq, according to the New York Times. Other developments: • Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar is expected to ask for help in trying to stamp out local rebel groups when he meets President George W. Bush in the White House Wednesday. (Full story) • A former regional Baath Party commander is in the custody of coalition forces, U.S. Central Command said Wednesday. Ghazi Hammud al-Ubaydi, former Baath Party Regional Command Chairman in the Iraqi district of Al Kut, is number 32 on CentCom's list of the top 55 most-wanted Iraqis. • U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Tuesday that investigators believe that "organized criminal groups" were involved in the looting and theft of artifacts from Iraq during the collapse of Saddam's regime. (Full story) • President Bush on Tuesday appointed a former ambassador and counterterrorism expert to oversee the rebuilding of post-war Iraq. Former State Department counterterrorism chief L. Paul Bremer will be the top coalition official in Iraq, leading reconstruction efforts in the war-torn country, and overseeing political development. (Full story) • Poland will take an active role in the reconstruction of Iraq's economic and political institutions, Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said Tuesday. (Full story)
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