Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 18, 2003
Iranian Newspapers Say al-Sahaf has Committed Suicide
Two Iranian newspapers have reported that Iraqi Information Minister Saeed al-Sahaf committed suicide by hanging himself hours before Baghdad was taken on April 9. The claim, however, has not been confirmed.
Two Iranian newspapers have reported that Iraqi Information Minister Saeed al-Sahaf committed suicide by hanging himself hours before Baghdad was taken on April 9. The claim, however, has not been confirmed.
According to the two papers, a manager at a recording room in northern Baghdad said Sahaf had been recording speeches there before Baghdad was taken. The man said Sahaf appeared very nervous on April 8 and didn't finish his tea.
The US military has expressed doubts over the reliability of the information, and thinks it could be a smoke screen by Sahaf to evade the search operation the US has launched against him.
The high-profile minister was the face of Saddam Hussein's government during the Iraq war, but is not included in the "Death Pack" playing cards distributed to the coalition forces featuring the 55 most-wanted top Iraqi officials.