He was speaking at US Central Command's forward planning base after British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said there were "strong indications" that Ali Hassan al-Majid, had been killed in a US-British coalition attack in Basra.

"I don't have any confirmed reports on the condition of the man referred to as Chemical Ali," Brigadier General Vincent Brooks said.

In London, Hoon told a press conference: "We have some strong indications that he was killed in the raid conducted Friday night but I can't yet absolutely confirm the fact that he is dead.

"But that would be certainly my best judgement in the situation."

US military officials said here Sunday that a bodyguard of Majid had been confirmed dead in a coalition air strike on Saturday in the southern city of Basra.

SPACE.WIRE