Saddam Tells Interrogators 'No WMD'
Sun December 14, 2003 07:41 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein denied during the initial interrogation after his capture that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, Time magazine reported on Sunday.
Citing a U.S. intelligence official in Iraq, the report said that when asked if his government had such weapons Saddam replied: "No, of course not. The U.S. dreamed them up itself to have a reason to go to war with us."
The news magazine reported that the official, who read a transcript of the interrogation of the former Iraqi president, said the interrogator asked: "If you had no weapons of mass destruction, then why not let the U.N. inspectors into your facilities?"
Saddam's reply: "We didn't want them to go into the presidential areas and intrude on our privacy."
The U.S. intelligence official, who was not identified, told the magazine that Saddam had not been very cooperative and did not answer any of the initial questions directly.
The transcript was full of "Saddam rhetoric type stuff," said the official, who paraphrased some of Saddam's responses.
According to the report, when asked, "How are you?" Saddam responded: "I am sad because my people are in bondage."
Both Time and Newsweek reported that after he was taken into custody Saddam had been taken to a holding cell at Baghdad airport, where other top Iraqi detainees are held for interrogation.
In its report on Saddam's capture, Newsweek said that the former Iraqi leader identified himself as he surrendered with no resistance.
"Don't shoot," Saddam said, according to a military source quoted by Newsweek. "I am Saddam Hussein, the president of the Republic of Iraq."
© Copyright Reuters 2003. All rights reserved. Any copying, re-publication or re-distribution of Reuters content or of any content used on this site, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent of Reuters.
Quotes and other data are provided for your personal information only, and are not intended for trading purposes. Reuters, the members of its Group and its data providers shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the quotes or other data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
© Reuters 2003. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
Close This Window |
