Baghdad, Dec 07: Coalition troops are still "focused" on the capture of Saddam Hussein, the commander of US forces in Iraq said today after a Ba’ath loyalist said the ousted strongman was directing operations from west of Baghdad. "I have read the report that you referred to," Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez said.
"He's the needle in the haystack, clearly we have to find the right haystack. It's a hard problem," he said.
Said Sanchez, "We are dedicated to the mission and we will eventually find him. We have clearly stated over and over we are moving under the assumption that he is in the country."
Asked if US forces had recently shifted their hunt for former regime leaders to Saddam's number two Izzat Ibrahim, Sanchez said, “I would not make that judgement. Don't jump to judgement. We remain just as focused on Saddam Hussein."
A tribal leader and faithful follower of the former President said on Saturday, "Saddam Hussein is in good health and living in the west of Iraq.
"The Iraqi President is commanding the military operations against the American forces," said the man who is involved in the struggle and calls himself only Abu Mohammad. Bureau Report