Saddam’s son-in-law surrenders in Syria

SADDAM HUSSEIN’S son-in-law Jamal Mustafa Sultan Abdullah al-Tikriti has surrendered in Syria and was being brought back to Iraq, it was disclosed last night.

Haider Ahmed, a spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress in London, said: "It happened in Damascus and he is being brought back to Iraq where he will be given to the Americans."

Jamal one of the Iraqi leader's trusted inner circle was married to Saddam's younger daughter, Hala.

His older brother, Kamal, was a senior figure in the Special Republican Guard.

Jamal, who led a police committee for his father-in-law, was listed as the nine of clubs in a pack of playing cards handed out to US troops showing the 55 most wanted figures of Saddam's regime.

His surrender means six of the men featured on the cards have been caught.

Jamal is also a cousin to Saddam, according to reports.

He is said to be rare among Saddam's relatives in that he has military experience and a reputation as a competent commander.

His surrender came hours after two US congressmen said President Bashar Assad of Syria assured them the country will not grant asylum to Iraqis wanted for war crimes and will expel any Iraqis who enter.

Nick Rahall and Darrell Issa were the first US officials to meet Assad since the recent escalation of tensions between Syria and the US.

Mr Issa said Mr Assad gave both men a "two-fold and absolute" assurance that Syria will not give asylum to any wanted Iraqis.

Mr Rahall said the president told them Syria has a list of wanted Iraqi war criminals not allowed into the country one that's longer than the list of wanted Iraqis Washington has compiled. "So, there's no asylum being granted to any war criminals in Syria," said Mr Rahall.

Increased US pressure on Syria since the toppling of Saddam by US-led forces has fuelled speculation that Damascus could be the next target in US President George W Bushs campaign against nations he accuses of aiding global terrorism.

Washington has accused Syria of harbouring Saddam's associates fleeing across the border, helping Iraq to fight US forces, developing weapons of mass destruction and aiding terrorism. Syria denies the US allegations.

Meanwhile, in a sign that a semblance of normality was returning to Baghdad, power supplies were restored in eastern parts of the city two weeks after they were cut off when US forces pounded the Iraqi capital ahead of their final push to oust Saddam.

As the first convoy of food aid reached Baghdad, Iraqi Christians observed a sombre Easter Sunday, praying for an end to postwar chaos. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Shi'ite Muslims, Iraq's majority population, beat their chests as they streamed toward the holy city of Kerbala in a pilgrimage banned by Saddam for nearly a quarter of a century.

In Baghdad, the mood was anxious as hundreds of Christians, dressed in the best clothes they could find, went to church to pray. "We just want an end to the killing. We have had enough," said Suhail Elias Kusto, 50, weeping at the Lady of Our Salvation Catholic church in Baghdad. She said that her nephew was killed soon after the US-led invasion started on March 20.

The mood was also subdued among the hundreds who crammed into St Paul's church in Mosul, where there is growing tension between Arabs and Kurds.

"Now we must all work together to rebuild our society and also promote the role of Christianity. The responsibility on us is great," said Father Jalil Mansoor David, who led the service.