Arabic television stations broadcast the audio tape as US troops were on the lookout for attacks timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1968 Baath party revolution. Saddam officially took power 11 years later.

The recording criticizes the new Governing Council of Iraq and calls President Bush a liar.

"Anything issued by the occupation is to weaken Iraq," the taped voice said. "The only solution... is a jihad (holy war) to resist the occupation," said the voice."

The tape, which reporters familiar with Saddam's voice said sounded authentic, appeared to be new since the Governing Council was established Sunday. But there was no way to independently authenticate the recording or to be sure of when it was made.

US intelligence officials said they were conducting a technical analysis to authenticate the message but said it was too soon to reach any conclusions.

American troops were gearing up for attacks to mark the anniversary, but, as of the afternoon, there were no reports of violence involving US forces in Baghdad.

US soldiers have come under increasingly ferocious and frequent attack by suspected Saddam loyalists in recent weeks -- reaching an average of 12 attacks a day. More than 30 US soldiers have been killed in hostile action since Bush declared an end to major hostilities on May 1.

The Pentagon yesterday raised the number of US personnel killed in combat since the start of the Iraq war on March 20 to 147 -- equaling the total killed in combat during the 1991 Gulf War.

Streets normally filled with American Humvees and tanks were strangely quiet Thursday, perhaps part of an effort to avoid confrontation.

About the only thing on Baghdad's streets yesterday were rumors: one that Saddam would make some sort of personal appearance after weeks in hiding, and the other that he had finally been captured by US forces. There was no evidence either rumor was true.

The speaker on the tape played yesterday lashed out at Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying they tricked their people to justify the war.

"What will they say to their people and to mankind? What will the chorus of lies say to those that backed them?" said the voice. "What will they say to the world after they devised the scenario of lies against Iraq's people, leadership and culture?"

"The lies were known to the US president and the British prime minister when they decided to launch a war and aggression," said the tape.

Bush and Blair have come under increasing criticism at home over some of the intelligence used in the run-up to the war.

The voice said that the Governing Council was created "by the will of the foreigners, therefore it is the servant of the foreigner and not a servant of the people."