Al Jazeera Airs Saddam Tape
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, topping the news right now, a new message said to be from Saddam Hussein. A voice purported to be that of the ousted Iraqi leader aired today on Al Jazerra television. Baghdad Bureau Chief Jane Arraf joins us now from the Iraqi capital with more on that. Jane, what's the reaction from there on this Al Jazerra tape?</s>JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Fredricka, it is sending chills down people's spines. It's a voice people have listened to for more than 30 years, and a lot of people who heard it today say it is him. He sounds a little weaker, a little older, perhaps a lot more tired, but it definitively sounds to many Iraqis like their former president, their toppled leader. Now, in this message, which, according to Al Jazerra, ran about 20 minutes, he congratulates those fighters that are fighting against what he calls the infidels. He says he is still in Iraq, as are his comrades, and he salutes them.</s>SADDAM HUSSEIN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAQ (through translator): I would like to clarify that my friends and my brothers from the leadership are present in Iraq now. Therefore, I greet them, greet you, and greet the Mujahadeen in the occupation forces' prisons and in the battlefield. I honor their sacrifices and heroism.</s>ARRAF: And he says there's good news, that cells for jihad, holy war, have been formed and brigades, and what possibly may be evidence of that as well as other causes is attacks continue on U.S. soldiers. U.S. military announcing that 16 soldiers were wounded in a mortar attack last night on a military outpost in the town of Beled, north of Baghdad, two of those seriously enough to still be in hospital. Another soldier killed last night in an attack as he was guarding a museum in Baghdad. Despite that, the troops did try to celebrate today 4th of July. They did that with barbecues, with concerts, an appearance by film star Arnold Schwarzenegger, and other things in their own small way. But, certainly these continuing attacks do cast a pall over their celebrations -- Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Jane Arraf with a mixed bag there coming there from Baghdad. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com