Quote:
One of Saddam Hussein's closest aides, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has died, Iraq's former ruling Baath party says.
"The leader of the resistance... died on 11 November, at 0220 [Thursday 2320 GMT]," the statement said.
There are no other details. Relatives - as well as Iraqi and US officials - could not confirm Mr Douri's death.
Mr Douri, 63, was the most senior figure in the former regime still at large. The US had offered a $10m reward for information leading to his capture.
In recent years he was accused of financing insurgent groups in Iraq.
The new Iraqi constitution approved last month outlaws the Baath party - an issue that has alienated many Sunni Arabs who fear punishment for their past association with it.
Kurdish threat
Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri is number six on the US list of 55 most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's regime. The top five have all been captured.
It is not clear what the cause of Douri's reported death was.
He was diagnosed with leukaemia several years ago - but his subsequent recovery enabled him to pursue a challenging domestic and foreign work schedule.
He often represented Iraq at foreign gatherings - most markedly in the run-up to the US-led invasion of April 2003.
There have been persistent reports that he was unwell ever since he went into hiding following the invasion.
Born in Tikrit, the former Iraqi leader's home town, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri was considered to have been Saddam Hussein's daily right-hand man.
Mr Douri was deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and held a senior post on the committee responsible for northern Iraq when chemical weapons were used in 1988, killing thousands of Kurds.
He served as vice-chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council and was a key commander in the suppression of the failed Shia uprising in 1991.
War crimes charges have been issued against him in Austria.
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will not many left to find any more.
The new Iraqi constitution approved last month outlaws the Baath party - an issue that has alienated many Sunni Arabs who fear punishment for their past association with it.
best thing they could have done, have a clean start is best thing to do.
11-11-2005, 08:08 PM
Key fugitive Saddam aide "found dead"
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