Iraq Warns Against Propaganda Attacks

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 11

Iraq Warns Against Propaganda Attacks

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BAGDAD, February 23.

The Iraqi Minister for Presidential Affairs, . Hazam Jawad, today issued . the strongest possible warning to Socialist countries to cease their propaganda campaigns against Iraq and not to interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs.

Mr Jawad gave the warning at a press conference, during which he also played a macabre tape-recording made by General Abdul Karim Kassem in his Defence Ministry office while aircraft bombed the building on the' day of the revolution Kassem, who was later executed, appealed hysterically to the people to take up arms and crush the revolt.

Mr Jawad told reporters that a number of Iraqi Communists, who had been investigated by the authorities.

would soon tell the press why the Iraqi Communist Party had acted against* the “people’s interests.” “We are keeping a diligent eye on aggressive propaganda which has been started against us by some Socialist countries," he said. “T.is aggressive propaganda will not help to establish good understanding between our people and the people of Socialist countries. The continuance of this campaign will inevitably affect our relations with them.” Mr Jawad then produced

the tape-recording, which he said the late Prime Minister made on February 8. The voice on the tape, which seemed to be Kassem’s appealed in highpitched, nearly hysterical tones to the people to resist the revolution.

Rising to a scream, the voice said: "I am undefeatable. Murder and crush everyone trying to bring down the revolution. Mutilate them, attack them at every street corner because they are the stooges of imperialism.” Mr Jawad said the recording of General Kassem had been given to a Communist Army major who was told to smuggle it to a clandestine radio station in the Bagdad

palace, a Government guest house, and broadcast ft. But the major had been caught that afternoon.

Mr Jawad said that the only measure taken against Iraqi Communists had been to put them in gaol—where they were treated normally. *