The Pentagon on Friday evening announced that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was wounded in the American air attack two days earlier. The Iraqi leader was the target of the air strike at the start of the war, which was carried out after intelligence information was received on his location.
Iraq said Saddam had survived the U.S. attempt to target him directly on Thursday.
Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed al-Sahaf has acknowledged that one of Saddam's homes was hit in Thursday's bombing but said the Iraqi leader survived the opening salvo.
"They targeted the houses of Saddam Hussein and his family, but they are safe. They are safe," al-Sahaf said Friday. "God has protected them."
ABC Television reported Friday evening that witnesses said they saw the Iraqi leader being taken from his home on a stretcher, and that he was wearing an oxygen mask. The report also said that Saddam was not taking part in making decisions in the country.
On his part, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday said he did not know whether President Saddam Hussein was still in control of Iraq. (Albawaba.com)
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