The ousted Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, has published an ultimatum to foreigners to get out of Iraq and threatened strikes in states and on planes of the US-led coalition, in a letter purportedly inked by him published in the pan-Arab newspaper, Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
"We warn all foreign citizens and those who came with the cowardly occupiers ... to leave Iraq," said the letter.
It said they should leave "before next June 17," an indication of a possible mistake in the date, which is more likely to be July 17, anniversary of the 1968 coup that brought Saddam's now deposed Baath party to power, according to Al-Quds Al-Arabi editor Abdul Bari Atwan, AFP reported.
"We will not be responsible for the consequences that might happen after that," the letter added.
"This is the first stage of the resistance that will include the forces of Denmark and Poland and other infidels," in addition to US and British troops, Saddam purportedly said in the handwritten letter faxed to the London-based newspaper.
"If they do not leave before this stage ends, we will be entitled to shift our defense to their countries and their airplanes," he said.
"We have pledged to God not to allow the criminal US and British forces to rest and steal the riches of the great Iraq," said the letter, dated June 12.
"The army, Republican Guard, Al-Faruk Brigades, Liberation Group, Baath party members and Al-Hussein groups are thus waging a real battle ... to expel the invading infidel forces from Iraq."
The letter urged all Iraqis to "rally around the goal of liberating Iraq from the occupation" and "turn the enemy's life into hell" by staging attacks from mosques, schools and mausoleums of revered religious figures.
"The resistance has taken an irreversible decision to expand its operations," the letter said.
"We tell all the countries of the world: pull your nationals out of Iraq. We are in a liberation battle, and if you ignore this you will be responsible for their lives."
It vowed that US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair would regret having sent their forces to Iraq, as would "Arab governments that helped the occupier". (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
