Former Iraqi vice president issues message

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BAGHDAD, July 15 (UPI) -- The people of Iraq will fight the U.S. military there "until doomsday," former Iraqi Vice President Izzat Ibrahim ad-Douri said in an audio message Tuesday.

In an audio message featured on the al-Arabiya news channel, Douri said, in his first audio message since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, that 2008 would be a "decisive year" for U.S. President George Bush and his campaign in Iraq, the McClatchy Newspapers reported.

Douri addressed Bush, saying, "The Iraqi people will fight you until doomsday," and called on the U.S. military to leave Iraq as soon as possible.

His remarks were not limited to the Bush administration, however. He also targeted the Mehdi Army of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr and al-Qaida forces, but warned U.S. officials against ignoring what he referred to as "the resistance."

Douri emerged as the head of the Baath Party following the execution of Saddam in 2006. There have been various uncorroborated reports he was either captured or died from leukemia, though various Arab media outlets have attributed statements to the former military commander this year.

There is a $10 million bounty out on Douri. He is the King of Spades in the U.S. military's deck of cards of wanted members of the former regime.