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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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