'Saddam tape' - Key extracts

Extracts from audio statement attributed to deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, dated 27 July and broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 1 August.

"...The tragedy that has befallen our people, the sacrifices they offered, and the losses they sustained by the foreign aggression have been immeasurable and difficult when compared to similar cases, including the many incidents our people have experienced in their modern history...

"Many people have lost their balance during the war that took place between the armies on both sides and for some time after this.

'The occupation army will collapse at any time'

"This imbalance has not been redressed and those who struggle for the principles that please the nation and the people, after God's satisfaction, are the only ones who can redress this...

"This loss of imbalance... can only be redressed through the stand and action of the faithful, loyal and mujahideen who have worked and carried out jihad to confront the occupation and expel the invaders to outside Iraq...

"Under such feelings of frustration, the lack of security and greed, a large number of citizens seized vehicles belonging to the state or the party. Many of these citizens took to their houses the vehicles for which they were responsible and for which they had to account.

"They were guided by a sense of responsibility and orders from their superiors within their jurisdiction or by his own initiative to protect them until circumstances allow them to identify the party that is responsible for these vehicles.

"The issue that we are dealing with now is a sensitive issue that... is accompanied by a sense of bitterness by all people towards what took place, as well as by the insistence on shouldering the responsibility with a special spirit of leadership to save our children and brothers, even those who have been reckless and have betrayed the people, the homeland, and the nation by co-operating with the criminal occupiers.

"Because we deeply feel that the failure to deal with this issue with required wisdom makes those concerned in it either feel confused under the heavy burden of responsibility or develop the feeling of guilt and fear of the future, particularly those who have been reckless, this might drive some of them to commit the crime of treason against the homeland and the march, God forbid.

"...In light of all this and of what might develop, we have decided the following:

"All missing vehicles or those kept with their owners but belonging to the state and the party should be considered a present for whoever possess them. He is free to keep them or sell them.

The speaker urged Iraqis to evict US troops

"They completely belong to him without any obligation or legal inquiry now and in the future.

"However, those who want to keep a vehicle in order to voluntarily return it back to the state or the party, according to where it belongs, after things go back to normal in the future, God willing, will be of great fortune before God and people.

"He will have God's reward and the pride of the righteous believer in front of himself, family, friends and all people.

"On the other hand, those who decide to sell any vehicle that belongs to the state, part of the price of the vehicle should be donated to jihad and the mujahideen, and if the vehicle belongs to the party, he should donate part of its price to the party in their area..."

"We totally prohibit the concerned people from handing over the vehicles in their possession to the criminal occupiers or to their traitor aides and the agencies they are running.

We note that the following are not to benefit from this decree:

• 1. President of the republic,

• 2. Chairman of the Iraq Revolution Command Council (RCC),

• 3. RCC vice-chairman and members

• 4. Members of the Iraq Baath Party national and regional commands,

• 5. The prime minister's deputies, ministers, and others on the same level...

"We are confident that the time for the occupation army to collapse, and when the occupiers give in to the truth and to the will of God and the people, is coming and possible at any time in the future in view of the mujahideen's painful attacks against the occupiers, and in view of our proud people's determination to reject the occupation and the occupiers...

"I call on all those who have been harmed by previous acts of theft and aggression - I call on everybody - to show discipline and to refrain from taking revenge in reaction to the acts of theft and killing that the delinquents have committed upon encouragement from the occupiers...

"I also call on you to particularly respect the principles of international law, heavenly laws, and your true religion in dealing with the surrendering members of the armies of aggression... Such conduct on your part elevates the value of composure during missions and hardships."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.