The Hindu : "It is Bush who should leave"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 19, 2003

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"It is Bush who should leave"

BAGHDAD MARCH 18. The Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, rejected a U.S. ultimatum today to go into exile or face war, and Iraqi television said the country was ready to repel any invaders.

Mr. Hussein was shown on television making a rare appearance in military uniform, chairing a meeting of his Cabinet after the U.S. President, George W. Bush, issued a 48-hour ultimatum yesterday in Washington.

"The meeting stressed that Iraq and all its sons were fully ready to confront the invading aggressors and repel them," the television report said, quoting a statement released after the Cabinet meeting.

"Iraq does not choose its path on the orders of a foreigner and does not choose its leaders according to decrees from Washington, London or Tel Aviv, but through the will of the great Iraqi people," the statement added.

Earlier, Mr. Hussein's eldest son, Mr. Uday, also rejected the ultimatum for Iraqi leaders to go into exile or face war.

"The proposal... comes from a person who is not completely capable or fit," Mr. Uday said in remarks issued by his office. "The proposal should be that Bush leaves office in America, he and his family," Mr. Uday said. Mr. Bush also directed his exile ultimatum at Mr. Hussein's two sons, Uday and Qusay.

"The wives and mothers of those Americans who will fight us will weep blood, not tears," Mr. Uday said. "They should not imagine that they will have a safe spot inside the land of Iraq or outside it".

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