Al-Quds al-Arabi: Saddam orders foreigners to leave Iraq, threatens their countries with attacks

The London based al-Quds al-Arabi issued today a hand-written message attributed to the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in which he ordered foreigners to leave Iraq and threatens to launch attacks against the occupier's countries.

In the message which dates June 12, Saddam threatens "all foreign citizens and who came with the occupation.. to live Iraq before July 17 otherwise they will be responsible for results."

The chief editor of al-Quds al-Arabi, Abdul Bari Atwan, explained that the matter most expectedly related to July 17, the anniversary of July 17 revolution which brought the Baath party rule in Iraq to power in 1968.

In another message also attributed to him and issued in al-Watan al-Arabi magazine, Saddam threatened to launch guerilla war against the American and British forces which he said had mobilized 40,000 fighters for it as from July 17.

The message which is also published today, Saturday, said "we tell to all world people to withdraw your citizens from Iraq, we are in a war of liberation. If you do not respond you will be responsible for your lives. Do not (spare) any plane, bus or ship. They are all a target for us."