Broadcast of Tape Allegedly Featuring Saddam Hussein's Voice by Al Jazeera - 2003-07-04

Al Jazeera has broadcast a recorded tape that is claimed to feature the voice of Saddam Hussein, in which he states that he is still in Iraq and encourages resistance against U.S.-led forces. The voice on the tape mentions that the recording was made on June 14 and discusses the establishment of terror cells throughout Iraq to fight against those described as infidel occupiers. No measures have yet been taken to confirm whether the recorded voice is indeed Saddam's. The release of this tape coincides with reports of ongoing clashes between American soldiers and Iraqi insurgents. The U.S. military reports that American soldiers killed eleven armed Iraqi men who attacked a military convoy in northern Iraq. They also state that no American soldiers were harmed during operations near the town of 'Balad'. Seventeen American soldiers were injured late Thursday in a mortar attack that occurred in the same vicinity. Additionally, on Thursday, another attack by a hidden sniper resulted in the death of an American soldier guarding the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad. The U.S. has set a reward of twenty-five million dollars for information leading to the capture or proof of Saddam Hussein's death. The ambiguity surrounding Saddam Hussein's fate seems to have encouraged nearly daily attacks by his loyalists against coalition forces. American officials say they are examining the tape broadcast by Al Jazeera, which is said to contain a message from Saddam Hussein. In this tape, the voice purportedly belonging to Saddam encourages Iraqis to assist fighters attacking U.S.-led forces. The tape also contains statements indicating that Saddam and a group of his supporters are still present in Iraq. There is no report confirming the authenticity of the tape, but individuals familiar with Saddam's voice suggest that it appears to be his. Today, the U.S. military announced that they killed eleven armed Iraqi men who had attacked an American military convoy north of Baghdad. In a mortar attack that occurred in the same areas on Thursday, seventeen American soldiers were injured.