Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro
de la Prensa-Baszn Ozeti
7 January 2001 Daily Telegraph
Saddam 'live' broadcast is a fake, say opponents to show the world that he is alive
and well, and still in charge.
Speaking on state-run television, the 63-year-old dictator looked healthy in a dark brown suit and tie as he delivered
a rambling tirade to mark the BOthanniversary of the formation of the country's armed forces. Much of the
speech in praise of Iraq's military prowess was abstract, with Saddam posing odd rhetorical questions such as:
"Does consciousness precede experience or is it experience that creates consciousness?".
The main message, however, was clearly: "I am still here." Saddam's third television appearance in three days failed
to convince observers. It was unclear whether the speech was live or pre-recorded, and the Iraqi leader frequently
uses doubles who have undergone cosmetic surgery to make it impossible to distinguish them from him.
Exiled Iraqi dissidents say that the broadcasts may have been doctored with old or pre-recorded footage. In one clip
shown on Thursday - of Saddam apparently chairing a cabinet meeting - he looked far younger.
Military experts in Baghdad have confirmed to The Telegraph that the Iraqi leader was taken seriously ill at a military
parade in the capital on New Year's Eve and is recuperating in one of his many bunkers. According to the military
experts, he has not been seen in public since the five-hour parade on New Year's Eve when he complained of
chest pains that could indicate a stroke or a heart attack.
As tanks and troops marched past, Saddam was seen shivering and was handed a heavy overcoat. He was taken to
Ibn Sina, a hospital reserved for VIPs within the presidential palace compounds, where he was treated by his personal
surgeon, Dr Aziz Shukri, and his team of eight doctors, including a cardiologist.
News of his illness leaked from the palace hospitallast week, and Baghdad was immediately put on high military
alert. All entrances to Baghdad are being guarded by large numbers of troops belonging to the Republican Guard,
Saddam's personal army.
Diplomats stationed in Baghdad said that the New Year's Eve parade was itself unusual. "Normally they are held on
January 6. This one was far larger. There were hundreds of tanks."
One diplomat said: "The display was to fete the birth of a new army unit called Al Quds, or Jerusalem.". Most of this
new army has been stationed along the western Iraqi border with Syria and Jordan.
Security experts said that the leader has not been seen in public since. He failed to attend a meeting of the Supreme
Court on Thursday, where members were due to swear an oath of allegiance.
Instead the duty was transferred to Saddam's deputy, Izzat Al-Douri. Foreign Office spokesman in London said that
while it was unclear exactly what was going on, it was unlikely that Saddam was dangerously ill.
The spokesman said: "A struggle would have begun between officials and the family and there is no evidence of that.
We think he is still there and as dangerous as ever, but there is no doubt the mood is very tense."
Peter Hain, the Foreign Office minister, issued a strong warning again yesterday against lifting sanctions on Iraq and
ending the almost daily bombings by British and American aircraft. He said: "Only last month Iraqi troops moved to
surround a Kurdish town in the no-fly zone and were deterred by a combination of Kurdish forces and Allied air
patrols. Others may be content to tolerate the continuing brutalities of Saddam Hussein's regime. Our Government
is not."
The Iraqi leader, who has been in power for 30 years, has ensured that it will be difficult to succeed him without a
struggle. There is fierce rivalry between his sons Uday and Qusay, and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid.
Uday, who was badly wounded by a would-be assassin in 1996, is a powerful newspaper owner with a well-established
reputation for cruelty and debauchery. Qusay runs the Special Security organisation and the Special Republican
Guard.
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