National News Death of Hussein's sons in U.S. raid raises hopes for less Iraqi resistance

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MOSUL, Iraq (AP) - Saddam Hussein's sons Odai and Qusai were killed July 22, the U.S. military said, claiming their deaths will blunt Iraqi resistance to the American occupation

It was the most successful American operation since the war and comes as a much-needed tonic for U.S. troops, who recently have suffered a dozen attacks a day

Acting on a tip from an Iraqi informant, U.S. forces mounted a six-hour operation in which they surrounded and then stormed a palatial villa in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul

Four U.S. soldiers were wounded and two other Iraqis were killed in the raid, but Hussein was not among them. The house belonged to Hussein's cousin, a tribal leader in the region

"We are certain that Odai and Qusai were killed today," a military official said. "The bodies were in such a condition where you could identify them."

The daily attacks on U.S. occupation troops are thought to be the work of former military officers and Baath Party leaders loyal to Hussein and his family - especially the sons, who played primary roles in the military and security services

Both Odai and Qusai ranked second only to their father in the deposed regime. They were Nos. 2 and 3 on the U.S. list of 55 top former Iraqi officials wanted by Washington. The United States had offered a 25-million dollars (¥3 billion) reward for information leading to Hussein's capture and 15 million dollars (¥1.8 billion) each for his sons

The White House applauded the action. "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," it said in a statement.

フセイン元大統領の息子、死亡確認

イラク駐留米軍は7月22日、フセイン元大統領の長男ウダイ氏と二男クサイ氏がイラク北部の都市、モスル市内の邸宅に潜伏しているとの情報を入手し、同邸宅を襲撃。2人の死を確認したと発表した。

Shukan ST: Aug. 1, 2003

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