Fugitive Saddam deputy urges resistance in video.
- 12 years ago
A damning statement against the Iraqi government from a man believed to be a Saddam Hussein top aide.
This video purportedly shows Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the head of Hussein's banned Baath Party and the highest-ranking official of the former government still at large.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN APPEARING TO BE SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FORMER DEPUTY AND TOP AIDE, IZZAT IBRAHIM AL-DOURI, SAYING:
"Nine years have passed since Iraq's invasion and occupation. Nine long years of killings, deportation and displacement. Nine years of devastation and sabotage of Iraq's national and civil progress and its financial pillars and principal and spiritual roots."
Slamming the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Hussein and Arab regimes that supported it, he also criticises Iraq's Shiite-led government and cautions against growing Iranian influence.
It's not clear when the video, uploaded on Saturday to a social media site, was recorded, but Iraqis seem to set little store by its statement.
Some call it a media fabrication while others believe it's a message from hostile foreign governments.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI CITIZEN, JASSIM AL-ZUBAIDI, SAYING:
"For me as an Iraqi citizen, the speech of Izzat is like a passing storm. From time to time he releases a statement -- those who broadcast his video are countries hostile towards Iraq, namely Saudi Arabia and Qatar who are known for their animosity towards Iraq and their backing of sectarianism and they themselves are sectarian."
US officials have offered a $10 million reward for Douri's capture and allege he helped lead the Sunni insurgency after the invasion.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
This video purportedly shows Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the head of Hussein's banned Baath Party and the highest-ranking official of the former government still at large.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN APPEARING TO BE SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FORMER DEPUTY AND TOP AIDE, IZZAT IBRAHIM AL-DOURI, SAYING:
"Nine years have passed since Iraq's invasion and occupation. Nine long years of killings, deportation and displacement. Nine years of devastation and sabotage of Iraq's national and civil progress and its financial pillars and principal and spiritual roots."
Slamming the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Hussein and Arab regimes that supported it, he also criticises Iraq's Shiite-led government and cautions against growing Iranian influence.
It's not clear when the video, uploaded on Saturday to a social media site, was recorded, but Iraqis seem to set little store by its statement.
Some call it a media fabrication while others believe it's a message from hostile foreign governments.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI CITIZEN, JASSIM AL-ZUBAIDI, SAYING:
"For me as an Iraqi citizen, the speech of Izzat is like a passing storm. From time to time he releases a statement -- those who broadcast his video are countries hostile towards Iraq, namely Saudi Arabia and Qatar who are known for their animosity towards Iraq and their backing of sectarianism and they themselves are sectarian."
US officials have offered a $10 million reward for Douri's capture and allege he helped lead the Sunni insurgency after the invasion.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters