But, absent hard proof in the ruins of that building, intelligence officials cited by The Washington Post and The New York Times refused to confirm Saddam's death.

Those participating in the intercepted communications were not members of Saddam's inner circle, they said.

"They were telling each other they think he's dead," an official told the Washington Post, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We don't know if they really know or not, or if they are trying to fool us."

A senior intelligence official told The New York Times that in light of the new information, US authorities were not certain Saddam was dead but were "leaning more towards the idea that he is dead."

In response to the media reports, which surfaced Friday on US television networks, a US official told AFP : "No conclusions have been reached.

"We have no hard evidence. We have no solid information that he is dead, but it cannot be ruled out," sid the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

US officials said a B-1 bomber dropped four 2,000-pound (900 kilogram) 'bunker-buster' bombs Monday on a building in Baghdad where Saddam and his sons were thought to have been meeting with senior aides.

Both President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday they lacked sufficient information to come to any conclusion about Saddam's fate.

"I don't know the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein. I don't know if he's dead or alive. I do know he's no longer in power," Bush said.

Rumsfeld said he had not seen enough reliable intelligence to convince him Saddam was dead. "I also lack conviction that he's alive," he added.

SPACE.WIRE