4TH LD: Saddam's 2 sons killed in U.S. raid: U.S. military

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 28, 2003

BAGHDAD, July 22 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING WHITE HOUSE COMMENTS)

The U.S. military raided a house in the northern Iraqi city Mosul on Tuesday, killing former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay, a top U.S. commander said.

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of the coalition forces in Iraq, told a news conference that Uday and Qusay died in a fierce battle that lasted six hours.

''We're certain that Uday and Qusay were killed,'' Sanchez said. ''We've used multiple sources to identify the individuals.''

Sanchez said two other people were killed in the raid, which he said was launched as a result of intelligence given by a ''walk-in'' informant.

In Washington, the White House welcomed the deaths of Saddam's two sons.

''We were pleased to learn from the Department of Defense of today's action against Uday and Qusay Hussein,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

''Over the period of many years, these two individuals were responsible for countless atrocities committed against the Iraqi people and they can no longer cast a shadow of hate on Iraq,'' the statement said.

Along with their father, Uday, 39, and Qusay, 37, were among the top former Iraqi officials the U.S. government has sought to capture or kill since the Saddam government was deposed in the U.S.-led Iraq war this spring.

Uday headed the feared Iraqi militia known as Fadayeen Saddam under the Saddam regime, while Qusay was in charge of his father's security detail, the Special Republican Guards.

The U.S. government has offered a $15 million award for information leading to the capture or death of each of the two Saddam sons.