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US military confident Saddam was in his hometown recently
Tikrit, Oct 13: Saddam Hussein has been hiding in his hometown Tikrit and is believed to be exerting influence within the resistance that has been killing American soldiers at a rate of nearly one every two days, a US officer said today.
Tikrit, Oct 13: Saddam Hussein has been hiding in
his hometown Tikrit and is believed to be exerting influence
within the resistance that has been killing American soldiers
at a rate of nearly one every two days, a US officer said
today.
"We have clear indication he has been here recently,"
Maj Troy Smith, Executive Officer of the 1st Brigade, 4th
Infantry Division, told reporters.
"He could be here right now," Smith added. "At the least, he is maintaining a strong influence in the area."
Another US soldier was killed today and two others were wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Tikrit, a Saddam stronghold where support for the ousted leader still runs deep.
Saddam, who was born in a village on the southern outskirts of Tikrit, was last seen in Baghdad in early April as the city was falling to American forces. His sons Odai and Qusai were killed July 22 in the northern city of Mosul.
"Where else would he go to," Smith said. "He has family and tribal roots are here."
Smith said some of the other key regime figures still at large could be in the Tikrit area. Of the 55 Iraqis on the coalition's most wanted list, 38 are in custody, 14 are at large and three are either dead or thought to be dead.
"We think they could still be around," he said. "They obviously have the money to pay the average poor Iraqi to shoot at coalition forces... We believe we are dealing with very few individuals here."
Bureau report
"He could be here right now," Smith added. "At the least, he is maintaining a strong influence in the area."
Another US soldier was killed today and two others were wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Tikrit, a Saddam stronghold where support for the ousted leader still runs deep.
Saddam, who was born in a village on the southern outskirts of Tikrit, was last seen in Baghdad in early April as the city was falling to American forces. His sons Odai and Qusai were killed July 22 in the northern city of Mosul.
"Where else would he go to," Smith said. "He has family and tribal roots are here."
Smith said some of the other key regime figures still at large could be in the Tikrit area. Of the 55 Iraqis on the coalition's most wanted list, 38 are in custody, 14 are at large and three are either dead or thought to be dead.
"We think they could still be around," he said. "They obviously have the money to pay the average poor Iraqi to shoot at coalition forces... We believe we are dealing with very few individuals here."
Bureau report