Washington, July 23: Describing the deaths of Saddam Hussein`s sons Udai and Qusai as "positive news", the US President George W Bush has assured a more prosperous future for the people of Iraq. "He (Bush) was pleased to hear the news," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.
"We were pleased to learn from the Department of Defense of today`s action against Udai and Qusai Hussein," a statement from the White House said.
"Over the period of many years, these two individuals were responsible for countless atrocities committed against the Iraqi people and they can no longer cast a shadow of hate on Iraq," it said. "US military forces and our intelligence community, working with an Iraqi citizen, deserve credit for today`s successful action. While there is still much work to do in Iraq, the Iraqi people can see progress each day toward a better and more prosperous future for their country," the statement said.
Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, coalition ground forces commander in Baghdad, said that the deaths of Qusai and Udai prove to the Iraqi people that at least two members of Saddam Hussein`s regime will not be coming back into power.
"We remain totally committed to the Hussein regime never returning to power and tormenting the Iraqi people," he said. Bureau Report