The tape recording of Saddam Hussein calling for resistance against US forces is probably authentic, CIA officials said today.
"The CIA's assessment, after a technical analysis of the tape, is that it is most likely his voice," said CIA spokesman Bill Harlow. "The exact date of the recording cannot be determined."
Intelligence officials said the recording - played on Gulf satellite TV station Al-Jazeera on Friday - is filled with background noise that prevents their technical analysts from being more definite. The speaker claims the recording was made on June 14th.
Intelligence officials said there were no references in the message that absolutely ruled out the possibility that it was pre-recorded before June 14th.
Still, the CIA's determination that the tape was probably authentic would further support most intelligence analysts' belief that Saddam survived the war, including at least two attempts aimed at killing him.
In the recording, the speaker purporting to be Saddam said he is still in Iraq and directing attacks on American forces there. He called on Iraqis to resist the US-led occupation.
US forces in Iraq have been targeted daily by ambushes, and dozens have died since the war's major fighting ended on May 1.
Last week, the US government put a €25 million bounty on Saddam's head, and €15 million for each of his sons, Uday and Qusay.
AP