Hizb militant, one villager killed in J-K Gun battle
Press Trust of India
Jammu, October 17: A top Hizbul-Mujahideen militant and a villager killed, and three others were injured in a fierce gun battle in Doda hills of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, official sources said.
Army troops launched a search operation in Marm at high altitude mountains in Doda district to track down a group of Hizb militants active in the area for the past three months, the sources said in Jammu.
AFP ^ | 10-19-03
Posted on 10/19/2003 5:50 PM EDT by Brian S
October 20, 2003
A LETTER purportedly written by ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and which emerged today, urges tribal leaders to launch a jihad, or holy war, against "the hated invaders" and those who cooperate with them.
"I urge you to help your brothers in the resistance. Call the sons of your tribes to the jihad because the day of salvation is near," the message, obtained by AFP, said.
The letter, dated October 9 and bearing Saddam's signature, was distributed on October 13 to about 20 people in Saddam's stronghold of Tikrit - a flashpoint of anti-US violence - according to people who call themselves "men of Saddam Hussein".
It was not clear whether Saddam's signature on the note was authentic.
The message praised those who struck at the "invader", a reference to US-led coalition troops who ousted him from power.
"Your strikes, which they did not expect, hurt them. Their demons made them believe Iraq would be just a mouthful. To the contrary, it has been poison for them."
"Victory is near," the note said, urging tribal chiefs to unite.
"Strike with an iron fist any person ... who serves the hated invader," it said.
He also urged the tribal chiefs to stage a peaceful protest on October 15 to denounce the US military occupation.
On that day, several people fired shots in the air in Baghdad to mark the anniversary of a pro-Saddam referendum, and one person was wounded in Baqubah, 60km north-east of the capital, when Iraqi police fired shots to disperse a similar demonstration.
The message closes by stating: "God is Great. Long live Iraq. Long live Arab and free Palestine."
The typewritten letter bears the Iraqi presidential seal.
US troops have been searching for the former dictator since they seized Baghdad on April 9.