$25m offered for information leading to Saddam's capture

Saddam Hussein 'Wanted for $25m' posters and leaflets are being distributed on the streets of Baghdad, as part of the ongoing drive to capture the former Iraqi ruler.

Teams of Iraqi police and Coalition soldiers have pasted up two striking posters reminding potential informants that tip-offs leading to the arrest or proof of death of Saddam could net them a $25m reward.

One of the posters features a head-and-shoulders portrait of Saddam alongside portraits of his two sons Uday and Qusay, recently killed whilst trying to evade capture by Coalition troops. Large 'X's partially obscure the faces of his sons.

Crucially, it was a tip-off led troops directly to Uday and Qusays hideout on July 22nd. A subsequent reward payout of $30m ($15m per son) was made.

Since May 1 when major combat operations ended, tip-offs have led to the arrests of numerous former Baathist regime loyalists. They have also led to the confiscation of large numbers of weapons, the foiling of terrorist plans and the prevention of sabotage. A tip-off led to the recent seizure of the Navstar I, a tanker ship smuggling almost 3500 tonnes of diesel out of the country.

Police and soldiers touring Baghdad are also handing out leaflet-sized versions of the posters, as well as other leaflets offering rewards of up to $10,000 for information about anti-Coalition activities or infrastructural sabotage.

The posters and leaflets will continue to be rolled out across Iraq in the coming weeks.

(GB)