September 2, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1424

BAGHDAD, Sept 1: A tape purportedly from Saddam Hussein denied on Monday he had any part in the Najaf bombing, but urged more attacks on the occupiers.

Arabic television channels aired an audio tape said to be from Saddam, insisting neither he nor his followers were linked to Friday’s attack in Najaf, which killed top Shia leader Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al Hakim and more than 80 others.

Shias flooded shrines south of Baghdad on the second day of funeral rites for the ayatollah, who advocated cooperation with the U.S-led occupation and whose brother is on the Governing Council.

The US-led administration in Baghdad said FBI agents were on their way to Najaf to help probe the car bombing at the request of Najaf’s governor, who has announced the arrests of up to five suspects he said were linked to Saddam’s government.

The voice on the tape aired on Al Jazeera television denied the accusation.

“The infidel invaders are accusing, without proof, the followers of Saddam Hussein after the killing of Shia leader Hakim,” the voice on the tape said. “This is not what Saddam attributes to himself.”

A full version of the tape carried later by Lebanon’s LBC television called for more attacks.

“O great heroes, intensify your brave blows against the foreign aggressors from wherever they come and whatever their nationalities,” the voice said.

US officials have blamed attacks on occupying troops and other targets on supporters of Saddam Hussein.

As the violence spirals, Iraqis have voiced anger about what they see as the US-led administration’s failure to provide security. —Reuters