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New Purported Saddam Tape Slams Iraqi Council

Aired July 17, 2003 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: They know the voice but can't place the face, literally. Iraqis who haven't seen their ousted president since the fall of Baghdad heard yet another audiotape purportedly made by Saddam Hussein apparently within the last week.
U.S. officials have yet to authenticate or discredit but the speaker and the message is typical Saddam. Fight the occupation.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The occupation administration has issued its orders in accordance with instructions by Washington, Tel Aviv, and London, appointing a number of those who are ordered by the administration on the basis of a despicable division of great Iraq. In this the occupiers have shown part of their intentions and plans to divide Iraq.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The new tape surfaces on the 35th anniversary of the Ba'ath Party's rise to power and, though the date is not a national holiday, for the first time in 35 years it's hardly going unnoticed in Baghdad.

CNN's Nic Robertson is there. Nic, what's the mood?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the mood is one again that Saddam Hussein's voice being heard that raising concerns with many Iraqis that he hasn't gone away that he hasn't been killed that he hasn't been apprehended and since the fall, since he was forced from power here has really cast a cloud over people's ability to get on and put the Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party behind them.

When they hear his voice they think that means it's a rallying point for those who would support him to gather around. They've seen the recent increase in attacks on U.S. troops. They've seen the threats to them and inherent and in part these particular radio broadcasts telling them that they shouldn't support the coalition.

People are worried. They think that any resurgent movement around Saddam Hussein would re-ignite a conflict with the coalition. That would drag them into the fight and they would be innocent victims caught up. What makes today's statement purportedly from Saddam Hussein? It does come and criticize the new governing council, an indication this recording recorded possibly very recently. The tape also calls on Iraqis not to support the coalition. We've heard that before, but it does appear to leave the door open for Saddam Hussein to come back to power.

The tape says that an honorable leader who has not been associated with the coalition, who has not been associated with the new governing council could come back to power in Iraq. That was seen to allude to Saddam Hussein.

And, perhaps, another development along the similar lines of this audiotape, a rally, a small rally albeit on the outskirts, western outskirts of Baghdad late in the day but an armed rally, a rally where people turned up not only with posters of Saddam Hussein, not only singing those songs we've heard over the last decade or so in support of Saddam Hussein but carrying automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

And, of course, the rocket-propelled grenade launchers have been used a lot on attacks of coalition forces recently and are explicitly banned. People are banned from possessing these weapons, so a very defiant rally, if you will, today as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson live from Baghdad. Thanks, Nic.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired July 17, 2003 - 14:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: They know the voice but can't place the face, literally. Iraqis who haven't seen their ousted president since the fall of Baghdad heard yet another audiotape purportedly made by Saddam Hussein apparently within the last week.
U.S. officials have yet to authenticate or discredit but the speaker and the message is typical Saddam. Fight the occupation.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The occupation administration has issued its orders in accordance with instructions by Washington, Tel Aviv, and London, appointing a number of those who are ordered by the administration on the basis of a despicable division of great Iraq. In this the occupiers have shown part of their intentions and plans to divide Iraq.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The new tape surfaces on the 35th anniversary of the Ba'ath Party's rise to power and, though the date is not a national holiday, for the first time in 35 years it's hardly going unnoticed in Baghdad.

CNN's Nic Robertson is there. Nic, what's the mood?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the mood is one again that Saddam Hussein's voice being heard that raising concerns with many Iraqis that he hasn't gone away that he hasn't been killed that he hasn't been apprehended and since the fall, since he was forced from power here has really cast a cloud over people's ability to get on and put the Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party behind them.

When they hear his voice they think that means it's a rallying point for those who would support him to gather around. They've seen the recent increase in attacks on U.S. troops. They've seen the threats to them and inherent and in part these particular radio broadcasts telling them that they shouldn't support the coalition.

People are worried. They think that any resurgent movement around Saddam Hussein would re-ignite a conflict with the coalition. That would drag them into the fight and they would be innocent victims caught up. What makes today's statement purportedly from Saddam Hussein? It does come and criticize the new governing council, an indication this recording recorded possibly very recently. The tape also calls on Iraqis not to support the coalition. We've heard that before, but it does appear to leave the door open for Saddam Hussein to come back to power.

The tape says that an honorable leader who has not been associated with the coalition, who has not been associated with the new governing council could come back to power in Iraq. That was seen to allude to Saddam Hussein.

And, perhaps, another development along the similar lines of this audiotape, a rally, a small rally albeit on the outskirts, western outskirts of Baghdad late in the day but an armed rally, a rally where people turned up not only with posters of Saddam Hussein, not only singing those songs we've heard over the last decade or so in support of Saddam Hussein but carrying automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

And, of course, the rocket-propelled grenade launchers have been used a lot on attacks of coalition forces recently and are explicitly banned. People are banned from possessing these weapons, so a very defiant rally, if you will, today as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson live from Baghdad. Thanks, Nic.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com