Saddam 'commands resistance'
2003-12-07 08:39
Baghdad - Saddam Hussein is hiding out west of Baghdad from where he commands the operations against US occupation of Iraq, a tribal leader and faithful follower of the ousted president told AFP.
"Saddam Hussein is in good health and liviing in the west of Iraq," said the man who is involved in the struggle and calls himself only Abu Mohammad.
"The Iraqi president is commanding the military operations against the American forces," he said on Saturday.
An AFP journalist was introduced to the tribal leader by a Baath politician working to set up a party to support the resistance.
The politician said Saddam presided over a meeting of "dozens of Baath Party cadres" at Ramadi, 100km west of Baghdad, at iftar, or the end of the daily fast during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.
A dissident Baath figure confirmed the secret meeting saying it took place on November 8 the same day General John Abizaid, commanding officer of US Central Command (Centcom), gathered tribal leaders in the same town to try to work out how to halt anti-coalition attacks.
- AFP