Saddam Hussein's Baath party threatened on Wednesday to retaliate if the ousted leader is executed, saying hanging him was a red line the United States should not cross.
"Our party warns again of the results of carrying out such a verdict, on the situation in Iraq and America in particular," read a statement by the party posted on the Internet.
"It is the most dangerous red line that the American administration should not cross."
In the statement, which could not be independently verified, the party threatened to target American interests everywhere if Saddam was executed.
"The Baath and the resistance are determined to respond through all possible means and everywhere in a way that will injure America and its interests in case it commits such a crime," said the party.
It also warned Iran against interfering in Iraqi affairs "or else our response will be in the heart of Iran and will get to its head."
The party stressed that executing Saddam and his comrades would only strengthen the resistance and the Baath and make it impossible for them to negotiate with "the occupation" in the future.
"Our party assures that the execution will not weaken the armed resistance but will ignite its fire, widen its base and double the number of its members," read the statement.
"It will also place on the US administration the responsibility of the killing of more of its soldiers."
Saddam calls for unity
Saddam Hussein said in a letter that his pending execution should be seen as a sacrifice for the nation and called on Iraqis to unite and fight US-led forces in the country.
In the letter, obtained by Reuters in Jordan on Wednesday, he called on Iraqis to "direct your enmity towards the invaders. Do not let them divide you".
But he urged them "not to hate the peoples of the countries that committed aggression against us" but "differentiate between the decision-makers and the peoples".
The two-and-a-half page letter was dictated by Saddam, who is in jail and awaiting hanging in Iraq. It was written out by hand by one of his lawyers.
"Here I offer myself in sacrifice. If God almighty wishes, it (my soul) will take me where he orders to be with the martyrs," Saddam said. "If my soul goes down this path (of martyrdom) it will face God in serenity."
The defence team said the letter was dictated shortly after Saddam was sentenced to death in November for crimes against humanity during his 24-year rule.
The Iraqi High Tribunal appeals court on Tuesday ratified the lower court's ruling, starting a 30-day period in which Saddam is to be executed by hanging.
"You have known your brother and leader as you have known your own family. He has not bowed down to the tyrants and (he has) remained a sword against them," Saddam said.
"O great people, I call on you to preserve the values that enabled you to be worthy of carrying out shouldering the faith and to be the light of civilisation," the letter said.
"Your unity stands against falling into servitude ... I urge you to avoid grudge, because grudge does not allow one to judge fairly. It blinds judgment and closes the avenues of thinking ...," Saddam said.
"O brave, pious Iraqis in the heroic resistance. O sons of the one nation, direct your enmity towards the invaders. Do not let them divide you ... Long live jihad (holy war) and the mujahideen against the invaders."
But he added: "I urge you not to hate the peoples of the countries that committed aggression against us, but instead to differentiate between the decision-makers and the peoples."
