Saddam’s fate still uncertain, says US

US FORCES said it may take some time to determine whether Saddam Hussein was killed in a bombing raid on a restaurant where he was believed to be meeting with his sons.

The site remained in Iraqi hands yesterday, a day after a US warplane dropped four bunker-buster bombs and blasted a smoking crater 60 feet deep at the restaurant. At least three houses were destroyed and 20 others damaged, some badly, in the attempt to kill Saddam.

"At this point in time, I'm not aware of anyone from coalition forces that have walked the site," said Brigadier General Vincent Brooks at US Central Command in Qatar.