Cryptic Baghdad Radio Messages Urge Action

Baghdad Radio early today broadcast a series of cryptic individual messages, seemingly calling followers of Saddam Hussein to action, and these were followed by a general broadcast from the “command center” to strike the Western allies “in their dens.”

Beginning not long after midnight, the radio station suddenly began broadcasting special messages from “the headquarters,” beginning with one that said:

“Call, call from Hammad to Kutaybah: Implement all that is on the table and outside it.”

Then in 10-minute sequences, the radio said:

“Call, call from Mahyub to Ayman: From Mahyub to Ayman: We are waiting to hear your voice and that of all the brothers. Do not hesitate.”

There were similar broadcasts to Mudhar Salim, Urwah, Al Muntasir and someone coded “301.”

One of the most cryptic was: “Call, call from Mahyub to 301: Report to the bank. . . . From Mahyub to Al Muntasir: report to the bank. . . . Rebuild.”

Twenty minutes later, the radio resumed with a 260-word broadcast calling on revolutionary cells to attack the interests of the allies.

“Fight them in their dens. Brother strugglers, wherever you are, strike the interests of the countries of aggression.

“Call from Maymun to everybody: All revolutionary cells, and all qualitative action cells, the winds of heaven are blowing, and the flags of victory have appeared to the multitude. O strugglers in all the qualitative cells and revolutionary cells. This is a call, this is a call.”

There was no explanation. Iraq has repeatedly issued calls and demands for supporters to attack allied interests, including a threat against President Bush and other coalition leaders.