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| Iraq |
| Unconfirmed opposition reports: Tareq Aziz shot dead |
| 2003-03-19 |
| This is the al-Bawaba article Steve was talking about in the comments below... The Iraqi opposition is trying to verify reports indicating that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz may have been killed on his way to the Kurdish part of the country. Ismail Zayer of the Iraqi opposition broke the news Wednesday, interviewed for Radio Free Europe. According to BTA, Zayer expressed hope that this news will be confirmed by an independent source by Thursday. "The Iraqi opposition has reasons to believe that Aziz has attempted to escape into the Kurdish region of Iraq," Zayer said. I guess it's only the parliament that's going to stay and be martyrs, then... "We have received no confirmation of such information," Iraqi Charge d'Affaires in Sofia Yahya Mahdi told BTA. "This is not true. Mr Tariq Aziz is a well-known patriot, he will stay in Iraq and he will be in Iraq till his last moment," the charge d'affaires said. He conveyed that the murder allegation is "cheap propaganda against Iraq." Maybe the last moment's come and gone? "We have no concrete information about Tareq Aziz," Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Ivanov said. "We have lost the direct channels of information from Iraq because we have pulled out our embassy officers from that country. We are now trying to obtain information by cooperating with other services." I imagine it's just rumor, but it'd be funny if it wasn't... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #12 I have thought there was the possibility someone like Aziz was actually feeding us intel on Iraq. The US seemed to be awfully carefull about revealing its sources when asked to present evidence on WMD, meanwhile assuring everyone that we know for certain they exist. If not Aziz, then someone else on the inner council is probably our mole. |
| Posted by: Anonymouse 2003-03-19 16:00:05 |
| #11 thanks for pin-pointing your location. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-19 12:38:31 |
| #10 I thought Aziz had cancer? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-19 12:35:47 |
| #9 IRAQ'S deputy Prime Minister has appeared on TV to scotch rumours he had defected or been shot. "I decided to meet you ... to affirm that we are ready to fight," Tareq Aziz told reporters in the live broadcast. Rumours had been circulating that he had either defected or been shot trying to flee Baghdad. Oh, well. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-03-19 12:18:53 |
| #8 Apparently Aziz has given a live press conference in Baghdad reufting the rumours regarding his flight... (no link yet, heard on BBC Radio 4). |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-19 11:44:12 |
| #7 When was the last time Aziz appeared on television? And why is this Sabri guy doing all the talking lately? |
| Posted by: RW 2003-03-19 10:41:27 |
| #6 He's been a buddy of Sammy's since very early days, and is one unctuous piece of s***. No way Aziz is getting off the hook. Just put him through the shredder - feet first - with the rest. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-19 10:41:05 |
| #5 I'm thinking along the lines of Martin Borman, myself. I don't think we will charge him with any war crimes, however, the Iraqi people may have different ideas. He may be trying to ride out the war under US protection in hopes of being a part of any future Iraqi government. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-03-19 10:32:40 |
| #4 Hmm... seems to me I remember hearing that Aziz's son is in one of Saddam's prisons (here's one reference), which might have made him think twice before defecting. Then again, if he was assuming the US would take over the prisons and save his son, getting out of harm's way might have seemed like a good idea, too. Interesting development, if it's true. |
| Posted by: Steve Gigl 2003-03-19 10:06:43 |
| #3 If they really want to sneak out they should camo-themselves as piles of camel dung,all they need is a few flys... |
| Posted by: Wills 2003-03-19 09:59:15 |
| #2 I saw this and I thought of Himmler trying to slip out of Doucheland in '45 in a dress... Then I visualized Aziz in a Monty Python-style drag ensemble with the hat, gloves, and purse... I crack myself up. PS--I hope he is dead. |
| Posted by: JDB 2003-03-19 09:46:31 |
| #1 Sometimes rats trample eachother when they all try to leave a sinking ship at the same time. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-03-19 09:26:44 |