Baghdad, July 03: The US overseer for Iraq, Paul Bremer, today announced a 25-million-dollar reward to Iraqi citizens for information leading to the capture of their former leader Saddam Hussein. Bremer also offered a reward of 15 million dollars for help in the capture of his two sons, Uday and Qusay.
"I have certainly not forgotten Saddam Hussein and his sons," Bremer said in a message to the Iraqi people.
"They may or may not still be alive. Until we know for sure, their names will continue to cast a shadow of fear over this country,” said Bremer. "That is why I am today announcing a 25-million-dollar award for information leading to the capture of Saddam Hussein and a 15-million-dollar reward for information leading to the capture of either of his sons. If any of you has such information I encourage you to come forward," he said.
The bounties will be offered under the US State Department's "rewards for justice" programme, according to US officials in Washington. "In the absence of conclusive evidence that these folks are dead, we have to make contingency plans for their arrest," one official said.
The reward is the same as the 25 million dollars offered for information leading to the capture of Osama bin Laden, believed to be the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on US targets. Bureau Report