BAGHDAD, March 25: President Saddam Hussein urged Iraqi tribesmen on Tuesday to join the battle against US and British forces, telling them how to wage a guerilla campaign against invading troops.

A statement read out on Iraqi state television and attributed to Mr Hussein told Iraqi tribes to “fight the enemy wherever they are” without waiting for battle orders from military commanders.

“The enemy has violated your lands and now they are violating your tribes and families,” the statement said.

“If you cause them any damage, no matter how small, they will flee. Don’t wait for our orders. Just fight them. Everyone of you is a military leader.”

A second statement read out on state-run television later, and again attributed to Mr Hussein, exhorted the Fedayeen paramilitary troops to ruthlessly hunt down the enemy.

“You are the people of sacrifice. Go after them (the enemy) and beat them wherever you find them. Kill them and beat them everywhere with determination,” the statement said.

“Kill them. May God make you victorious ... so they lose their objective ... and curse their fate. Kill the enemy in places and times that are different in style.”

“Your days are days of great victory, awaited not only by Iraqis but by all good people worldwide,” the statement ended.

Founded in 1995 and under the command of Mr Hussein’s elder son Uday, the fiercely loyal Saddam Fedayeen could number as many as 100,000, according to Iraqi military expert and former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack.

Mr Hussein earlier offered tribesmen a crash course in military strategy, cautioning them against fighting US and British troops head on and telling them to employ guerilla tactics instead.

“Fight them in small groups, hit their frontlines and their rear units so the whole advance will stop. And when it stops, attack them,” it said. “If they deploy, leave them alone, don’t fight them, but if they rest somewhere, attack.”

US and British forces advancing towards the capital Baghdad have met stiff resistance from Iraqi forces, including paramilitary and militia units employing the kind of tactics described in Mr Hussein’s statement.

US officials say some Iraqis have pretended to surrender, and then opened fire. People in civilian clothes and non-military cars have shot at US troops, and small roaming bands of Iraqi militiamen have mounted attacks in areas thought to have been secured.—Reuters