The belief among US intelligence analysts that Saddam Hussein is alive was bolstered recently by intercepted communications, the New York Timesreported today.
The newspaper quoted unnamed military officials as saying the hunt for the former president, who disappeared during the US-led war that ousted his regime, had intensified and new operations had begun to find him.
A secret US military group, known as Task Force 20, was leading the hunt, the newspaper said.
The renewed belief that Saddam had survived the war stemmed from intercepted discussions between members of the Saddam Fedayeen paramilitary unit and Saddam's intelligence service, the Timesquoted the officials as saying.
The intercepts indicated that Saddam was alive and needed to be protected, the newspaper said.
The United States said on Wednesday it had captured one of Saddam's closest aides, Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti, who was often at the side of the deposed Iraqi ruler. Mahmud now faces interrogation on the whereabouts of Saddam.