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Mystery surrounds fate of Saddam's deputy

Pa
Wednesday 19 March 2003 01:00 GMT
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The Foreign Office is investigating rumours that Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi deputy prime minister, has defected to Northern Iraq, the Commons was told today.

Junior Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien said the rumours came from a Bulgarian source.

Labour's Ann Clwyd, in a point of order, said: "We do have reports that are as yet unconfirmed that Tariq Aziz has defected to Northern Iraq to Kurdish Democratic Party territory (KDP).

"It would be very useful to have a statement if that is confirmed."

Mr O'Brien said: "We too have heard these rumours and we are seeking confirmation, or not, of them."

However, other rumours from within the region have suggested that Aziz may have been killed or injured by forces loyal to Saddam.

Nabez Rashid Ahmad, the deputy director for the KDP Sulaymaniyah branch, has been quoted as saying, "He's in KDP-controlled land." He gave his location as the Irbil region, but gave no details on when, where or how the purported surrender took place.

In Washington US officials have denied the rumour, saying the report is "just not true."

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