Saddam is hiding along Tigris River - report

SAPA-AFP via Independent Online (SA) ^ | July 14 2003

[Clive]

London - Saddam Hussein is hiding in villages along the Tigris River north of Baghdad along with his former chemical weapons chief, known as "Chemical Ali", Britain's Independent newspaper said on Monday.

The Independent cited the former head of Iraqi military intelligence, General Wafiq al-Samarrai, as saying the two wanted men are hiding in an area of farmland and small villages between Baghdad and the city of Samarra, about 100 kilometres to the north.

Despite a price of $25-million (R187,5-million) on his head, Saddam has been able to escape capture because the area is heavily populated and has thick vegetation, the newspaper said.

"He is hiding in an area about 60 kilometres long and about 20 kilometres wide according to my information," Samarrai was quoted as saying.

'He is hiding in an area about 60km long and about 20km wide' In the interview, Samarrai said Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", a member of Saddam's inner circle notorious for using poison gas against Kurds, was hiding in the same area independently of Saddam.

Samarrai, was in charge of Iraqi military intelligence during the 1980-1988 war with Iran and the first Gulf War, fled into the Turkish controlled area of northern Iraq in 1994.

Samarrai is helping American forces track down Saddam, which he said led to an attack on his house 10 days ago with a rocket-propelled grenade.

The death or capture of Saddam would not end guerrilla attacks against US forces, he told the newspaper.

"Saddam plays a very small role in this. Most of the attacks are by Islamic groups, former military men who are no longer being paid and members of the Baath party." - Sapa-AFP

[Cedric]

Saddam is dead!

[Support Free Republic]

[RoughDobermann]

Saddam is dead!

Wow, it's like deja vu all over again...

[RoughDobermann]

"Hey al-Samarrai! Wouldn't happen to have an address, would ya? Maybe some GPS coordinates?"

[CholeraJoe]

'He is hiding in an area about 60km long and about 20km wide'

Three B-83's dropped at 20km intervals ought to do the trick then.

[kaktuskid]

One word...NAPALM

[Ahban]

At last a role for our much vaunted MOABs!

[shrinkermd]

"Saddam is dead!

I agree. This man was so self-centered at the very lest it would be impossible for him not to make a TV tape to prove his continued power.

[Spottys Spurs]

Pay no attention to that man under the water breathing through a reed!

[dead]

I'm pretty sure I bought a newspaper from him in Times Square last week.

[johnb838]

There is no "Saddam". Saddam died of cancer back in 1998. They are chasing the wind.

[CholeraJoe]

Sorry. No longer an option. Thanks to the Clinton administration all napalm cannisters left in the inventory were drained and destroyed by early 2001.

[dead]

Clinton had horrible memories of napalm for when he spent 1968 in the jungles of Oxford.

[CholeraJoe]

"The horror, the horror."

[exit82]

Dead, that's the funniest thing I've seen today. The jungles of Oxford,hah!.

Actually, there was a famous poem in the 1930's about the men who perished in WWI titled "The Spires of Oxford"--just in case you're on a game show and they ask about it.

[Cedric]

So is Osama. But, for whatever reason, W. and the CIA think it's better not to admit they've both been carbonized.

[lugsoul]

So THAT'S what was in those rushes along the side of the river!

[Trust but Verify]

That's what happens when a dictator loses control of his country.

He lives in a VAN down by the river!

[Poohbah]

That's what happens when a dictator loses control of his country.

He lives in a VAN down by the river!

Eating government surplus cheese, no doubt.