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Saddam readies hit squads against U.S.-backed foes

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE

Thursday, June 24, 1999

LONDON [MENL] -- President Saddam Hussein has authorized preparations to assassinate exiled opposition leaders organized and financed by the United States to overthrow the Iraqi ruler, Arab sources said.

The sources said Saddam has authorized his son, Qusay, to train hit squads to assassinate or intimidate exile leaders who have launched an effort to oust the Iraqi president. Over the past month, Iraqi and Kurdish leaders have met in Washington in a U.S.-financed effort.

Saddam's efforts include a reshuffle of his security and intelligence services and offers of amnesty to Iraqis who fled their country. Among the appointments was that of Saddam's personal secretary Abdul Hamid Hamoud General Ayed Alhaj.

The London-based Yemen News reports that Saddam's "Fedayeen" led by Qusay are training for missions inside and outside Iraq. "It is believed that such missions may include intimidation and assassination of Iraqi opposition in the Middle East and Europe," the service said.

Qusay is also said to be meeting with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq to participate in a Saddam program to reform the regime. The meeting took place in Mosul before a session of two leading Kurdish groups in Cairo. Tension is reported high between the two rival Turkish groups.

As part of his initiative, Saddam has agreed to pardon university teachers who fled Iraq illegally and to allow them to return without fear of prosecution, the official news agency INA said. Iraqi government newspapers said an amnesty lasw is being drafted.

Thursday, June 24, 1999



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