- Title: IRAQ: SADDAM HUSSEIN SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
- Date: 21st February 1991
- Summary: BAGHDAD (FEBRUARY 21) (MOUSSA) SVS/CU PEOPLE LISTENING TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S RADIO BROADCAST (3 SHOTS) BAGHDAD (MOUSSA) GVS AIR RAID VIEWED FROM THE GROUNDS OF THE AL-RASHEED HOTEL (3 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 15:10
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD AND KERBALA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflict,General
- Reuters ID: LVA8SEUOUONV6GTTSJ8OQG8S4ROX
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said on Thursday (February 21) his embattled nation would continue its struggle, confident of victory.
"The mother of battles will be our battle of victory and martyrdom," he said in a speech to the nation of Iraqi radio. "They want us to surrender, but of course they will be disappointed."
"They wanted the word 'withdrawal'," he said, "but they don't care for it now and talk about new things...By the word 'withdrawal' they meant stripping Iraq of all power...they want from us many new concessions."
Saddam Hussein ended the 35-minute address, which appeared to contain no new concessions, by declaring Allahu Akbar (God is great).
Allied planes bombed Baghdad just before Saddam Hussein began his speech and again moments after he finished.
Baghdad radio said on Wednesday (February 20) night that Saddam Hussein had presided over a meeting of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) to study a Soviet peace proposal. Iraqi Foreign Minister Tareq Aziz was due in Moscow on Thursday with the Iraqi response.
Debris from allied air raids was shown to foreign journalists at the Iraqi town of Kerbala on Thursday. The wreckage included some fuel drop tanks and what appeared to be an unexploded rocket. No casualties were reported. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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