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Posted on 04/14/2003 8:23:56 PM PDT by Pokey78
SADDAM Hussein is holed up in a desert fortress with his generals preparing for a final bloody showdown, war commanders believe.
US troops who swept into his home town of Tikrit were told by residents that Saddam was in the city four days ago.
But he fled to the desert village of Al Hawijah with his family, aides and a personal army as Allied soldiers advanced on the city.
The dictator left behind hundreds of Fedayeen paramilitaries to defend Tikrit and buy him some time — but they folded as US Marines moved in.
Saddam has now turned Al Hawijah — about 60 miles north-east of Tikrit and 50 miles west of Kirkuk — into his last stronghold.
Kurdish police were massacred when they ventured into the village a day after he arrived. Survivors said the area was now overrun with foreign Arabs loyal to Saddam.
But it is not known if murderous sons Uday and Qusay were with him — or if they are already dead.
Al Hawijah now threatens to be the scene of Saddam’s final battle as Allied troops close in.
Commanders had thought he would stage his last stand in Tikrit.
But US tanks yesterday rolled into the city’s main square and troops seized Saddam’s palace.
Forces hunting the tyrant and his aides were also carrying out house-to-house searches and checking documents and computers for clues.
US military chiefs said they had encountered less resistance than expected in Tikrit. But some locals warned the troops to beware of Syrian suicide bombers in the city.
Allied commanders also fear a small army of the bombers is on the loose in Baghdad.
The fanatics are thought to be armed with “suicide vests” packed with explosives and ball bearings.
Up to 80 of the vests are missing from a batch of 300 found after Saddam’s forces fled last week.
Now they could be in the hands of bombers prepared to die to kill British and American troops.
US Brigadier General Vince Brooks said foreign fanatics, mostly from Syria, had flooded into Iraq to support the collapsing regime.
He added: “We believe some of the explosive vests were for them and we believe some are missing.
“There are still threats even though there are no organised leaders. There are individuals willing to carry out actions of violence.”
US soldiers have found 11 mobile chemical and biological labs buried near an Iraqi artillery plant.
No chemical or biological weapons were found inside the metal vans uncovered near Karbala.
But Brigadier General Benjamin Freakly said his troops found mountains of documents inside the labs.
The paperwork could be crucial in the search for the “smoking gun” proving Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi nuclear scientist has surrendered to authorities in a Middle Eastern country and is being quizzed by US officials.
Jafar Jafar is believed to know key people and locations of facilities connected to Iraq’s nuclear weapons program, an official said.
Saddam’s feared half-brother was captured by the SAS as he tried to flee Iraq, it emerged last night.
British forces swooped on Watban Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti after a tip-off from locals. He is now being interrogated at a secret location.
A seven-strong SAS team lay in wait at a checkpoint manned by Iraqis, then pounced as Watban tried to cross to Syria by car.
A senior military source said: “It was over in seconds. It was a classic snatch for our men. When these guys go in there’s no point resisting.”
Special forces have been offering Iraqis payment in US dollars, Swiss francs and even gold bullion for information on regime leaders.
Watban — five of spades in the US military’s pack of cards featuring wanted men — is the most senior Saddam aide captured so far.
The source added: “This is a major victory. We believe Watban knows Saddam’s escape plan and could be vital in our search for him”
Watban played a key role in Saddam’s rise to power, holding jobs in the security services. As Interior Minister he encouraged the use of torture and rape.
US officials claim an interim authority could be running Iraq within weeks.
The first in a series of meetings meant to shape a future government takes place in Nasiriyah today. Invitations went out to 75 leaders.
But rivalries are already emerging between different ethnic, religious and exiled groups — and some may not even attend the meeting.
A senior British soldier was yesterday announced as one of three deputies to former US General Jay Garner, who has been placed in charge of rebuilding Iraq.
Major General Tim Cross promised to approach his job “gently and carefully”.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Oooooo, a remake of "Beau Geste", only in reverse.
Will he prop up all the dead generals with their rifles in the ramparts as hordes of allies come riding over the sand dunes?
Stay tuned.
Leni
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