Saddam Hussein was betrayed by three of his cousins, senior military officers, and a former cabinet minister, in moves that allowed the fall of Baghdad, ex regime officials have said. According to these former officials Saddam's cousins ordered troops not to fight against the US-led coalition and issued reports saying that the Iraqi leader was dead. "The head of the Republican Guard Sufian al-Tikriti, who was considered the shadow of Saddam, told the troops not to fight when US forces entered Baghdad on April 8," one of the sources said on condition of anonymity. "The verbal order was confirmed by the head of intelligence, Taher Jalil al-Harbush al-Tikriti, as well as military officer Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti whose son headed the office of Saddam's youngest son Qusay," the source said.
| And then we bumped off poor Maher Sufian for all this help. That's the thanks you get... |
At the same time a rumour that Saddam was killed in the bombing of the Baghdad neighbourhood of Al-Mansour on April 7 began to spread among government members. The information was spread by one cabinet minister, the source said, refusing to identify the former official. "This minister was then evacuated by American troops along with his family and now lives in a European country," the source said. The three military officers and their families were also evacuated by US troops aboard a military aircraft following the fall of Baghdad, the source said. The former officials also said that Saddam had visited the Al-Azamiya district in central Baghdad on April 8 with Qusay. A videotape broadcast by Abu Dhabi television in April showed Saddam being cheered by a crowd of supporters in Al-Azamiya, but it was reported to have happened on April 9, the day Baghdad fell to US forces. "During that visit Saddam said he had been betrayed, referring to two US bombardments targetting him," one of the sources said, quoting witnesses present in Al-Azamiya. "Saddam Hussein knew he had been betrayed and that information on his whereabouts had been handed over to the Americans on the night of March 19," one of the sources said.
| You just can't trust anybody, can you? |
The former Iraqi leader then ordered a close surveillance of his personal guards who were among the very few to know about his activities, the source added. "Thus he voluntarily let it be known that he would be visiting Al-Mansour on April 7," he said. "As usual he took a taxi that was discretely followed by his guards and went to a restaurant but while his guards thought he was inside the building, Saddam came out from a rear door," he said.
US forces bombed the building soon after but Saddam emerged unscathed, the source added. "Saddam Hussein no longer needed proof and ordered the execution of these officers who were known to be among those most faithful to him," the source added.
| "Mahmoud, shoot them. Shoot them all." |
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