Posted on 03/19/2003 5:04:54 AM PST by islander-11
DEBKAfile exclusive: Kurdish sources confirm that Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz is in their hands and is being questioned by US intelligence officials.
If he's in our hands, OOOoooo, won't that be fun!
Earlier, as American and British forces began invasion of Iraq, DEBKAfile’s military sources reported persistent rumor that two leading powerbrokers of Saddam’s regime had fled Baghdad: deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz, who is thought to be hiding in Kurdistan in northern Iraq, and vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan who has not been seen for three days.
The invasion has begun with the advance of US Marines and British 1st Armored Division into Iraq in the direction of southern key naval port of of Umm Qasr. A second column of US 3rd Infantry Division troops crossed into the demilitarized zone on Iraqi border with Kuwait, with thousands of tanks, combat vehicles and fuel trucks
Hundreds of Iraqi officers and soldiers are reported streaming to the Turkomen town of Tozkhurmato south of Kirkuk and turning themselves in
Arafat formally appoints deputy Mahmoud Abbas aka Abu Mazen first Palestinian prime minister with 5 weeks to form cabinet.
Washington not happy with measure of authority Arafat shares with PM. He retains overall command of Palestinian security forces and final say on peacemaking with Israel
Israel has completed call-up of 12,000 reservists, some for special deployment on northern frontier with Lebanon and Syria. Tuesday, population was advised to keep gas mask kits close at all times. Deployment of anti-air Patriot missiles completed Tuesday.
Iraqi parliament speaker Hamadi says it is “unthinkable” for Saddam Hussein to leave. He was speaking after session during which Saudi Arabia made formal appeal to Iraqi ruler to go and avert war.
Egyptian ruler Mubarak holds Saddam responsible for crisis.
Blair wins parliamentary backing for sending British forces into battle in Iraq in two votes - despite major revolt in his Labor party.
British Airways halts flights from Israel from Wednesday night. Most other foreign airlines expected to follow suit.
Three suspected terrorists arrested in London Wednesday after police found two home-made bombs in apartment not far from Gatwick international airport.
Yes, and it would seem to be in the U.S. best interest to do that very quickly. If the story is true, the rest of the senior Iraq leadersh needs to see that the cookie is crumbling and it is time to bail out.
"The French officers will see to it that the British officers are not harmed," he says.
A_R
Never liked his silly-a$$ glasses anyway.
Huh?? I just saw him in a press conference yesterday calling Bush names. He seemed extremely nervous to me.
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