'Saddam tape' scorns WMD claims

The message has not been verified as the voice of Saddam Hussein

An audiotape message attributed to Saddam Hussein has accused the US and Britain of fabricating arguments for invading Iraq.

It calls for further attacks on US-led coalition forces in the country and condemns Iraqis who co-operate with the occupying powers.

The message, in Arabic, was aired on the al-Arabiya television station on Thursday - the 35th anniversary of the seizure of power by the former Iraqi leader's Baath Party.

Coalition troops in Iraq have been placed on a high state of alert, reflecting concern about possible attacks to coincide with the anniversary.

It transpired that their statements were false and lies, and that the lies included in them were known to the US president and the British prime minister when they decided to stage war and aggression Taped message

In the message, the speaker denies the pre-war charges by the US and Britain that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

"It transpired that their statements were false and lies, and that the lies included in them were known to the US president and the British prime minister when they decided to stage war and aggression" he says.

US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair are meeting in Washington later on Thursday as both come under pressure over the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - the primary justification they gave for going to war.

The message describes the current US-run administration in Iraq as an "administration of occupation and evil".

Excerpts from 'Saddam message' US faces up to guerrilla war

It continues: "The only genuine solution that does not make those who implement it regret it is to resist the occupation through jihad (holy war) in order to defeat the occupiers and expel them outside Iraq."

The message says Iraqi officials appointed by the coalition - including the newly established Iraq Governing Council - are collaborating with the enemy.

"What could those whom the foreign occupier appoints offer to the people and homeland, unless their offerings correspond to the will of the occupation?

"They are appointed by the will of the foreigner. Hence, they serve the foreign occupier and are not servants of the people nor masters in the homeland."

$25m bounty

The tape, like others broadcast since the coalition toppled the Iraqi regime in April, has not been independently verified as the voice of Saddam Hussein.

But the BBC's Jonny Dymond, in Baghdad, says those who know Saddam Hussein's speech are confident that the voice is that of the former Iraqi leader.

Saddam Hussein disappeared as US forces entered Baghdad

Al-Arabiya said the tape was handed to one of its journalists, Saad al-Silawi, in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

"I received a phone call from a certain person, who told me to leave the hotel and to take a right turn near the trees," said al-Silawi.

"He identified a certain spot and said that there was a message for me. I did not know what it was.

"I went there and found a message with the tape inside."

US intelligence officials say they are reviewing the tape to determine its authenticity.

The former Iraqi president has not been seen since US forces entered Baghdad, and the Americans are offering a bounty of $25m for his capture.

The last taped message purporting to be from Saddam Hussein was broadcast by al-Jazeera television and Lebanon's al-Hayat-LBC television less than two weeks ago.

US admission

The latest tape was released a day after the US chief of military operations in Iraq admitted for the first time that his troops were facing a classic guerrilla-style war.

We're seeing a cellular organization of six to eight people... attacking us at some times and places of their choosing General Abizaid E-cyclopedia: Guerrilla war

The comments by US Central Command head General John Abizaid mark a significant change in the stance taken by the US towards its attackers.

Pentagon officials have been reluctant until now to admit to a guerrilla campaign, describing the attacks as unco-ordinated violence by remnants of the Baathist regime.

More than 30 US troops have been killed as a result of hostile action since US President George W Bush declared major combat over on 1 May.

On Wednesday alone, one American soldier was killed in a ambush, a surface-to-air missile was fired at an US transport plane and a pro-American mayor in western Iraq was shot and killed.

The US has launched numerous operations to try to pre-empt attacks, arresting suspects and seizing caches of arms, ammunition and money.

But our correspondent says these operations create hostility among the population because of aggressive search tactics and large-scale detentions.