Saddam has prostate infection

DEPOSED Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is suffering from a chronic prostate infection and has refused to have a biopsy to rule out any chance he has cancer, an Iraqi official said yesterday.

X-rays and blood tests carried out by US military doctors did not show anything more serious than the infection and Saddam seemed to be in good health otherwise, Iraqi Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin said.

He said blood tests came back negative for cancer, but officials wanted to take a biopsy to be safe.

Chronic prostate infections are common, occurring in about 35% of all men over 50, but are not linked to cancer. However, routine screening for prostate cancer, especially among older men, is becoming more common.

Saddam, 67, has been held under US detention at an undisclosed location in Iraq since his capture last December.

There have been several media reports saying his health was deteriorating - which the US military denied yesterday.

Caused by a variety of bacteria, prostate infections develop gradually and can remain undetected for a long time. The most common symptoms include a feeling of having to urinate all the time, pain or burning during urination. Treatment involves months of antibiotics.