Former Iraqi VP al-Douri speaks on Gaza

BAGHDAD, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Former Iraqi Vice President Izzat al-Douri released an audio message Wednesday calling on Palestinians to rise up against the Israelis.

The former vice president, the "King of Clubs" in the U.S. deck of cards depicting the most wanted members of the deposed Baathist regime, said Israel would lack the political will to attack the Hamas-held Gaza Strip if Saddam Hussein were still in power, al-Sumaria said.

Israeli forces entered their seventh day of fighting Wednesday against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Raei Iraqi satellite television broadcast the original 30-minute recording Wednesday.

"We say to the people of Gaza, give more resistance and we will be with you in the field, and know that our victory in kicking out the invaders is your victory as well, because the main assailant on the nation and on Palestine is the American imperialism," CNN's translation of the recording said.

Douri, characterized by his pale features and red hair, issued a July statement saying the people of Iraq would fight the U.S. military there "until doomsday."

Douri emerged as the head of the Baath Party following the execution of Saddam in 2006. There have been various uncorroborated reports that he was either captured or died from leukemia.

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz in 2004 credited Douri with overseeing the insurgency in Iraq.

There is a $10 million bounty out for his capture.