Boost for coalition forces as Saddam’s sons killed during gun battle with US forces

SADDAM HUSSEIN’S two sons were killed by US forces during a fierce gun battle in northern Iraq, it was confirmed last night.

Uday and Qusay Hussein were among four victims of a six-hour shoot-out after the American 101st Airborne Division raided a home in Mosul, said Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in Iraq.

“We are certain that Uday and Qusay were killed today,” he told a news conference in Baghdad.

US troops stormed the house belonging to a cousin of Saddam after receiving “good intelligence” that his sons had recently been there.

The raid took place in Mosul, a city 280 miles north of Baghdad, in an area largely controlled by Kurdish forces.

Confirmation of the deaths is expected to give significant boost to US and British forces in Iraq who have faced strong resistance since major conflict in the country was officially declared over.

Analysts believe it would help remove the fear that the old regime could return, which prevents the local population from coming forward with information about resistance fighters.

In Washington, L Paul Bremer, Iraq’s top civilian administrator, said he did not want to comment on how the deaths of Saddam’s sons would affect security in Iraq.

However, he said: “It certainly is good news for the Iraqi people.”

“This will contribute significantly to reducing attacks on coalition soldiers,” added Ahmad Chalabi, a delegate from the Coalition Provisional Authority, speaking at the United Nations.

Asked whether the killing of the sons would reduce the incessant attacks on American forces, Lt Gen Sanchez said he thought the security situation now would improve.

“I believe very firmly this will have an effect. This will prove to the Iraqi people that these two members of the Iraqi regime will never come to power again.”

Washington had put a $15 million bounty on Uday and Qusay for their capture, dead or alive. The pair were both aces in the 55 most wanted Iraqis pack of cards issued by the US.

Retired US Army Major General Paul Valleley said it also might lead to the discovery of the former Iraqi dictator.

“One event can lead to the other, so hopefully, this will lead to determining in some way where Saddam may be.”

Qusay was probably Saddam’s successor, according to US intelligence officials. He ran much of Iraq’s security apparatus, controlling several militias, internal security services and the military forces of the once-vaunted Republican Guard.

He was described as quiet and level, particularly compared to Uday, Saddam’s eldest son, who had a reputation for brutality and flamboyance.

Uday controlled Saddam’s Fedayeen, the paramilitary force that fought US troops during the war and many of its survivors are thought to be part of the ongoing guerrilla campaign in Iraq.

He also controlled information and propaganda in Saddam’s Iraq, and was chairman of the country’s Olympic committee.

According to some reports, Saddam has a third, younger son who kept out of public view.

US forces have so far captured 34 of the 55 Iraqis on a most-wanted list of members of Saddam’s regime.