Radio Baghdad Tells Terrorists to Strike

Radio Baghdad issued a terrorist call to arms today, ordering attacks against Iraq’s enemies and broadcasting what may have been coded instructions to agents abroad.

“To strugglers in all revolutionary cells,” the radio announcer said. “Fight them with all your force, in all their dens, wherever they are.”

“Do not spare any interest of any of the countries taking part in the aggression against your brethren in Iraq, against an Arab and Islamic nation.”

The radio also broadcast cryptic messages to people named Kutayba, Mudar, Ayman and Muntaser. It was impossible to determine if the messages were instructions for agents or part of a psychological campaign.

Kutayba’s instructions were: “Implement what’s on the table, and what’s outside it.”

Mudar was told: “Do not hesitate to do anything. God be with you.” Another message was “Go to the bank.”

Iraq has made terrorist threats against the United States and its allies before, but this appeared to be the first time that possibly coded instructions were broadcast over Radio Baghdad.

Pentagon sources said today it is extremely difficult to permanently shut down such Iraqi radio broadcasts.

“Transmitters are easy to relocate,” said one military source. “We can take out their antennas, but somebody can string up a network of wires someplace else. Transmitting is something you can do in a closet.”

In Saudi Arabia, reports said Interior Minister Prince Nayef has ordered that anyone who undermines the kingdom’s security be executed or have a hand and a leg cut off.

The warning, reported by the official Saudi Press Agency today, came after a sniper shot at a shuttle bus carrying U.S. military personnel late Sunday in Jiddah, injuring two Americans with shattered glass.

Police said today they have arrested an unspecified number of foreigners they suspect of carrying out the attack. No further details were given.

The prince’s statement warns that any person convicted of such activity will be “subjected to maximum punishment under Islamic Sharia law--either he will be killed or have an arm and a leg cut off.”