Saddam letter sent to Arab newspaper

Atwan said the letter, received by fax from an undetermined location and signed "Saddam Hussein," would be published in the newspaper today.

The one-page message contains a reference to "betrayals" that led to the US military victory, an appeal to Iraqis to cast aside any differences, and a warning that US-installed leaders will not bring them freedom.

The full text was not immediately available.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi yesterday published a letter from a previously unknown group calling itself Iraqi Resistance and Liberation which said Saddam was still alive and would deliver a message to his country within three days.

On April 18, Abu Dhabi TV aired what it said was footage of Saddam being feted in a Baghdad neighbourhood on April 9, the day the capital fell to US forces, and his "last speech" which it said had not been broadcast before.