BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) and the Revolutionary Command Council agreed unanimously on Thursday that the Iraqi leader should seek another term as president in a referendum set for later this year.

Reuters Photo

The move comes as the United States pushes for a "regime change" and Saddam's ouster in Baghdad.

The state Iraqi News Agency said the Revolutionary Command Council, at a meeting chaired by Saddam, unanimously agreed on the nomination but did not set a date for the referendum.

Iraqi government newspapers reported last month that a referendum on the presidential post would be held in mid- October.

President Bush ( news - web sites) said last month Washington would use all tools at its disposal to topple Saddam and branded Iraq part of an "axis of evil" along with Iran and North Korea ( news - web sites).

Saddam said last week any U.S. attack on Iraq would fail.

A referendum on October 15, 1995, to endorse Saddam as president was the first such vote in Iraq since it became a republic following a 1958 revolution which toppled the monarchy.

The vote followed amendments to Iraq's interim constitution that included a provision to elect the president by secret ballot for a seven-year term.

Government figures showed Saddam won 99.96 percent of more than eight million valid votes cast on a turnout of 99.47 percent.

< Previous Story

Email Story

Formatted Story

Next Story >

Message Boards: Post/Read Msgs (158 msg Aug 15, 5:11 PM ET)