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Iraq threatens use of 'new' weapons in war with Iran

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said in an Army Day speech Friday that his forces would hit Iran's ''vital interests'' if Iran attacked Iraqi territory and warned foreign merchant ships to stay away from the head of the Gulf.

Hussein said his country now possessed sophisticated weapons to ''strike at selected targets in Iran,'' Iraq's enemy in the 40-month-old war, ''and deal heavy blows to the ambitious enemy.'' He was not specific about the new weapons.

Appealing for the support of Arab nations in his war against Iran, Hussein charged that Iran was not fighting Iraq alone but the entire Arab world. He called for Arab solidarity against Tehran which, he said, was endangering stability and security in the region.