Iraqis offer bounty for US officials
Resistance fighters in the Iraqi city of Falluja have placed a $15 million bounty on the heads of key US occupation figures, including Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld.
The reward is also offered for the capture of US Commander in Iraq, Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez and US occupation forces’ spokesperson in the country, Brigadier Mark Kimmit.
A leaflet displaying pictures of the three wanted men offers “15 000 000 $ as a reward who bring one of these three heads (sic)”. The “Islamic resistance in Iraq” is asked to be contacted.
Leaflets were distributed in Falluja after US occupation forces’ heavy bombardment of the city overnight on Tuesday.
In the days leading up to Saddam Hussein’s capture, the Bush administration placed a reward of up to $25 million on the former Iraqi leader’s head.
Saddam was the Ace of Spades in the US’ controversial set of 55 playing cards depicting “the most-wanted members of the former Iraqi regime”. Occupation officials say 44 of the 55 on the list have been caught or killed so far.
The US has a $10 million bounty on Saddam’s former deputy Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, the highest ranking former Iraqi official still at large. Rewards of $1 million have also been announced for help in catching the other dozen fugitives.