US: Syria may expel some Iraqis

Syria may be preparing to quietly expel some members of the Iraqi government who have sought refuge inside its borders, US officials said.

Intelligence reports have suggested some Iraqi leaders have reached Syria. US officials have identified only a few of those, including Farouk Hijazi, Iraq’s ambassador to Tunisia and a former senior intelligence operative, and possibly Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s first wife, Sajida Khairallah Telfah.

“There might be some individuals who might be made available to us,” said a State Department official last night.

The Syrians have come under intense pressure from the Bush administration since reports surfaced that some Iraqis had crossed the Syrian border fleeing the US-led war.

Expulsions were not expected today.

There are signs Syria has tightened controls on its border following Washington’s criticism, with some members of Saddam’s government turned away at the border, said another US official.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that if members of Saddam’s government turn up in Syria, “We hope ... the Syrians will do the correct thing, the right thing, in our judgment, and return them back to Iraq so they can stand before justice administered by the Iraqi people”.

It was unclear what, if any, negotiations were under way among the US, its allies and Syria, regarding the Iraqi leaders. Mr Powell and Syrian officials have acknowledged that the governments are in communication.

Syria has denied taking in any senior Iraqi officials, including specifically Hijazi. Mr Powell said he plans to go to Damascus for talks with President Bashar Assad.

Finding and questioning top members of Saddam’s government remains a key US goal. They may have information on other Iraqi leaders, including Saddam and his sons, intelligence officials said.

In addition, some leaders may have information on Iraq’s alleged chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programmes. Already, two top scientists are being questioned by US authorities, but it is unclear if they are providing any useful information.

Some security and intelligence operatives, including Hijazi, may also be able to detail any Iraqi links to terrorist groups. Hijazi went to Afghanistan in late 1998 and reportedly met with Osama bin Laden, officials said.

Two of Saddam’s half-brothers have been detained, but many other leaders remain unaccounted for, including several military and security chiefs. Among them are most of the Iraqi leaders depicted on the deck of cards distributed by the US military.

They include:

:: Abid Hamid Mahmud, Saddam’s presidential secretary.

:: Izzat Ibrahim, vice chairman of Iraq’s Revolutionary Command Council.

:: Aziz Salih, chairman of Baath Party regional command.

:: Hami Abd al-Latif Tilfah, director of the Special Security Organisation, Iraq’s primary internal security service

:: Kamal Mustafa Abdallah, secretary of the Republican Guard.

:: Sayf Al-Din Fulayyih Hasan Taha, chief of staff of the Republican Guard.

:: Tahir Jalil Habbush, director the Iraqi Mukhabarat, or intelligence service.

:: Barzan Abd al-Ghafur Sulayman Majid, commander of the Special Republican Guard.