Posted on 03/17/2003 7:11:27 PM PST by HAL9000
DUBAI (AFP) - Exiled former Iraqi army chief Nizar al-Khazraji, who was reported missing in Denmark, is in Saudi Arabia, an Iraqi opposition source said.The London-based source, which spoke on condition of anonymity, said the report on Khazraji's whereabouts came from "someone very close" to him in Denmark, noting that the former army chief has "always had good ties with Riyadh."
Khazraji, under house arrest in Denmark, went missing Monday with police suspecting that he might have fled the country or been kidnapped by Iraqi agents, according to reports from Copenhagen.
Khazraji, believed to be the highest-ranking officer to have defected from Iraq and touted as a possible successor to President Saddam Hussein, did not come back from a walk Monday morning in the southwest town of Soroe, his family told police.
Khazraji had no travel documents, but could easily have left Denmark, which is part of the Schengen agreement for the free circulation of people, said special prosecutor for international criminal affairs, Birgitte Vestberg.
Khazraji, who headed the Iraqi armed forces during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, fled to Jordan in 1995 and three years later applied for political asylum in Denmark, where he has since lived.
Despite being charged with war crimes for chemical weapon attacks on Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s, he has been touted as a possible interim leader for Iraq if Saddam is overthrown.
At the time of his indictment last November, Khazraji was about to leave Denmark for Saudi Arabia which had granted him a visa. The 64-year-old said he wanted to make his way into northern Iraq to help topple Saddam.
"At the time of his indictment last November, Khazraji was about to leave Denmark for Saudi Arabia which had granted him a visa. The 64-year-old said he wanted to make his way into northern Iraq to help topple Saddam."
The immediate picture I had of this man, is leading the victors into Baghdad. He goes to North Iraq, fights along with the Allied forces, and marches right down to the capital as an Iraqi savior.
Just a thought. I know nothing about the man, but he sounds like an opportunist. IMMHO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.