[cuchulainn]

2:00 GMT -- BBC World (internet radio) is reporting that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz may have defected.

I don't see anything on U.S. news sites

[Marko Kloos]

Tariq Aziz deserves to hang from a rope, for all the things he's done or ordered on Saddam's behalf. If he has defected, he needs to be the first war criminal tried.

[El Tejon]

Did he defect to Uganda?:D

[Grin&Barrett]

The report I heard was that he was shot trying. :confused:

[Drizzt]

MYSTERY OVER TARIQ AZIZ

The Foreign Office is investigating rumours that Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi deputy prime minister, has defected to Northern Iraq.

Junior Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien told the Commons that the rumours came from a Bulgarian source.

Labour's Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) said: "We do have reports that are as yet unconfirmed that Tariq Aziz has defected to Northern Iraq to Kurdish Democratic Party territory.

"It would be very useful to have a statement if that is confirmed."

Mr O'Brien said: "We too have heard these rumours and we are seeking confirmation, or not, of them."

The Foreign Office said there was nothing more to add to Mr O'Brien's remarks at this stage.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12271955,00.html

[cuchulainn]

http://www.irna.com/en/head/030319171950.ehe.shtml

UK trying to clarify rumors Tariq Aziz has been killed

London, March 19, IRNA -- Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said Wednesday that the British government was trying to clarify the rumor that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz had been killed.

"The rumor and it is no more than that at this stage, and I want to emphasize that and I understand our source is Bulgarian source at the moment -- is that Tariq Aziz . . . may have been killed," O'Brien told MPs in the House of Commons.

"There are rumors -- we do not know if they are true," he stressedbut pledged to keep parliament informed as soon as the matter was clarified.

Earlier O'Brien confirmed that the British government was aware of 'reports' that Aziz may have been trying to defect to Iraqi Kurdistan.
HC/BH/AH

[twoblink]

If he's caught... I say try him for war crimes, and hang him!...for 15 years!

[Gary H]

Debka claims that the U.S. is interrogating him in the Kurdish North.

[Chaz]

Whats the deal with Debka? Are they reliable? They seem to have information that alot of media dosn't.

[Hkmp5sd]

He might as well go ahead and defect. When Saddam hears the rumor, he's toast anyway.

[KMKeller]

I wonder if he's going to sing songs of WMDs locations to try and avoid the war? Interesting possibilities here. Staged defection so Saddam can capitulate and save face? If Aziz spouts locations and quantities of WMDs, does the US call off the war? I believe our commanders have said that regardless, we're going in, to either topple Hussein or to extract WMDs. Las minute ploy to try and get the UN to slap down the US?

Inquiring minds REALLY want to know.

[Blackhawk]

I doubt that Aziz knows many details about where WMDs are, etc. Since he's been allowed to travel and a spokesman, the risk to Saddam of him running off at the mouth was too great, and he didn't have a need to know the details anyway.

[Greg L]

I just heard on the radio news that he is in Baghdad holding a press confrence right now (no verification that I've found yet).

Greg

[El Tejon]

National People's Radio is reporting that the rumors are false, 1:04 p.m. EST.

[Dannyboy]

Just saw the film of his presser in Baghdad.