Damascus - An Iraqi opposition group claimed on Monday that Iraq's president, Saddam
Hussein, was rushed to a Baghdad hospital late on Sunday suffering from an apparent stroke
after having officiated earlier at the country's  biggest New Year's Day parade in 10 years.

The Iraqi leader was being treated for "a severe stroke" at Iben Sinna Hospital, said a
statement issued by dissident leader Bayan Jaber of the Supreme Council of the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq.

The statement said the 63-year-old president's condition was unknown but that he was still in
the hospital on Monday. There was no mention of Saddam's medical condition or
whereabouts on Monday by the official Iraqi news media,  which generally refrain from
carrying news about his health or that of his family members.

Hussein officiated on Sunday at the biggest military parade in Baghdad since the 1991 Gulf
War. Flanked by top aides, Saddam wore a business suit and hat as he stood on a reviewing
stand. He greeted army units with shots from a  rifle he held in one hand as tanks rumbled
past and fighter jets and helicopter gunships flew overhead.

The parade, following the Ramadan fasting month, which ended last week, also marked the
end of a four-week training exercise for thousands of "volunteers to launch Jihad (Holy War)
to liberate Palestine" from Israeli occupation.

Saddam warned in October that he was prepared to take steps to "put an end to Zionism"
himself even if other Islamic leaders did not join him.

Last week at the end of Ramadan, which this year coincided with Christmas, Saddam issued
an appeal to all Christians and Moslems to rise up in holy war against Israel and the "Zionist
conspiracy".
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com