Saddam's half brother Barzan dead: family friend

CAIRO (AFP) Apr 11, 2003
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's half-brother, Barzan al-Takriti, died Friday morning in a US bombing of his farm, in the region of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, a family friend told AFP.

Barzan had been placed under house arrest by Saddam on March 5 in a presidential palace in Jadriya, near Baghdad airport, the source said, requesting anonymity.

When US troops entered Baghdad, he fled to his farm in Ramadi, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) away. "His family, living in Europe, told me he died as a martyr this morning," the source said.

US Central Command said earlier Friday that Barzan had been targeted by air strikes in Ramadi with six JDAM "smart bombs".

Saddam had put him under house arrest for contesting his wish that the former Iraqi leader's younger son, Qusay, succeed him should he be killed, the friend said.

SPACE.WIRE