Saddam calls for unity to fight invaders

Dubai, Dec 28: Saddam Hussein said in a letter that his pending execution should be seen as a sacrifice for the nation and called on Iraqis to unite and fight US-led forces in the country.

In the letter, obtained by Reuters in Jordan today, he called on Iraqis to ''direct your enmity towards the invaders.

Do not let them divide you''.

But he urged them ''not to hate the peoples of the countries that committed aggression against us'' but ''differentiate between the decision-makers and the peoples''.

The two-and-a-half page letter was dictated by Saddam, who is in jail and awaiting hanging in Iraq. It was written out by hand by one of his lawyers.

''Here I offer myself in sacrifice. If God almighty wishes, it (my soul) will take me where he orders to be with the martyrs,'' Saddam said. ''If my soul goes down this path (of martyrdom) it will face God in serenity.'' The defence team said the letter was dictated shortly after Saddam was sentenced to death in November for crimes against humanity during his 24-year rule.

The Iraqi High Tribunal appeals court yesterday ratified the lower court's ruling, starting a 30-day period in which Saddam is to be executed by hanging.

''You have known your brother and leader as you have known your own family. He has not bowed down to the tyrants and (he has) remained a sword against them,'' Saddam said.

''O great people, I call on you to preserve the values that enabled you to be worthy of carrying out shouldering the faith and to be the light of civilisation,'' the letter said.

''Your unity stands against falling into servitude ... I urge you to avoid grudge, because grudge does not allow one to judge fairly. It blinds judgment and closes the avenues of thinking ...,'' Saddam said.

''O brave, pious Iraqis in the heroic resistance. O sons of the one nation, direct your enmity towards the invaders. Do not let them divide you ... Long live jihad (holy war) and the mujahideen against the invaders.'' But he added: ''I urge you not to hate the peoples of the countries that committed aggression against us, but instead to differentiate between the decision-makers and the peoples.''

Reuters