Saddam ‘connecting the dots’ for US

SADDAM HUSSEIN may not be talking freely to his US interrogators but he has already provided information that led to the arrest of several top regime figures in Baghdad, a US general said yesterday.

As the debate grew as to where and when the fallen Iraqi dictator should be put on trial, experts were poring over papers found in Saddam's briefcase when he was captured.

Brigadier General Mark Hertling said the first round of Saddam's interrogation and documents in a briefcase found with him was "connecting the dots" in intelligence on the insurgency. "It was reported as his personal briefcase," Brig Gen Hertling said. "There were a lot of things that can be exploited."

Since Saddam's capture, soldiers have captured one high-ranking former regime figure who has yet to be identified and that prisoner has given up a few others, Brig Gen Hertling said. All the men are currently being interrogated and more raids are expected, he said.

"We've already been able to capture a couple of key individuals here in Baghdad. We've completely confirmed one of the cells. It's putting the pieces together and it's connecting the dots. It has already helped us significantly in Baghdad."

Brig Gen Hertling said of Saddam: "I'm sure he was giving some guidance to some key figures in this insurgency."

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Saddam "has not been co-operative in terms of talking or anything like that".

While the now clean-shaven Saddam was being quizzed at a US base in Baghdad yesterday, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council said he would be put on trial soon and executed on July 1 the day after the US hands over control.

But others were not so sure and any trial is likely to be some time off as Iraq does not yet have an operational war crimes court.

President George Bush, during a White House press conference yesterday, hinted that he would be happy for Saddam to face trial in Iraq.

"We will work with Iraqis to develop a way to try him that will withstand international scrutiny," Mr Bush said. "There needs to be a public trial and all the atrocities need to come out and justice needs to be delivered," he said. When asked what he would have said to Saddam on his capture, the US president said: "Good riddance. The world is better off without you, Mr Saddam Hussein."

Brig Gen Hertling said he hoped Saddam will eventually clear up allegations that he had chemical and biological weapons and a nuclear weapons programme.

"I certainly think some of that will come out," Brig Gen Hertling said. "I think we'll get some significant intelligence over the next couple of days."

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it hopes it will be allowed to visit Saddam to check on the conditions in which he is being held. It declined to comment on whether the US has already breached international law by publishing photos and video images of Saddam after his capture.