Pentagon offers bounty for Iraqi leaders

The Pentagon is offering rewards of up to €185,000 for information on the whereabouts of leaders from Saddam Hussein’s toppled regime and its hidden weapons.

In addition to cash payments, US forces in Iraq also can give food, basic necessities and other incentives to encourage Iraqi citizens to “provide information and other assistance ... including the delivery of dangerous personnel and weapons,” said Defence Department spokeswoman Lieutenant Commander Barbara Burfeind.

With major Iraqi fighting forces defeated, American troops have been focusing on trying to eliminate remaining pockets of resistance, finding key regime leaders and building up programs for the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Officers in the field may authorise rewards of up to €2,300, and the war commander, General Tommy Franks, can authorise up to €46,000. Rewards beyond that – up to the limit – must be approved by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Burfeind said.

The program is similar to one used in Afghanistan, where the United States offered a multimillion dollar reward for information on Osama bin Laden, who has yet to be found, and his al-Qaida terrorist network. It was unclear when the program started in Iraq.

At least a few senior Iraq figures have been captured or have surrendered, officials have not said how many they hold.