Saddam Hussein has given his UScaptors information on hidden weapons and as much as $40 billionhe may have seized while he was Iraq's president, an Iraqiofficial was quoted as saying today.
"Saddam has confessed the names of people he told to keepthe money and he gave names of those who have information onequipment and weapons warehouses," Mr Iyad Allawi, a member of theIraqi Governing Council, told the London-based
Asharq al-Awsat
daily.
"The Governing Council is searching for $40 billion worth offunds seized by Saddam when he was in power and which has beendeposited in Switzerland, Japan, Germany and other countriesunder the names of fictitious companies," he said, adding that the council had asked international legal companies to track the money.
Earlier this month, Iraq's finance minister said his countrywas preparing to demand some $3 billion in cash held in Syrianstate banks under deals struck with Saddam's government.
A Syrian official, however, said the amount was in themillions, not billions and Syria's ambassador to the UnitedNations, Mr Fayssal Mekdad, said today his country wouldcooperate in helping Iraq recover any funds.
In the newspaper interview, Mr Allawi said interrogators werenow focusing on whether Saddam had any links tomilitant groups. It is not clear whether Saddam was behind ambushes that havekilled at least 211 US soldiers since Washington declaredmajor combat over on May 1st.
The capture of Saddam has not ended guerrilla activity inIraq, which US officials believe involves non-Iraqi militantIslamists and Saddam loyalists.