Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Body of Saddam Hussein's ex-right hand man paraded through the streets of Baghdad

Body of Saddam Hussein's ex-right hand man paraded through the streets of Baghdad

THE BODY of Saddam Hussein's former right-hand man and Islamic State ally Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri has been paraded through the streets of Baghad today.


The body of Al-Douri was carried through the streets of Baghdad REUTERS

The body of Saddam Hussain's right hand man Al-Douri was carried through the streets of Baghdad
Al-Douri was reportedly killed by security forces and insurgents during a government operation in Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Friday. 

Today, his body was delivered to the Ministry of Health in the Iraqi capital flanked by members of the armed forces, as jostling civilians gathered to get a closer look of the dead 72-year-old.

The scenes of Al-Douri being carried in a glass coffin with transparent panels revealing his lifeless body as he was transferred from a van to a government vehicle were aired on Iraqi state television.
Al-Douri was known as the 'King of Clubs' in the deck of playing cards given to US troops to help identify key members of Hussein's regime.
Crowds flocked to catch a glimpse REUTERS
Crowds flocked to catch a glimpse
Al-Douri was reportedly killed by security forces and insurgents during a government operation in Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Friday
The fugitive militant leader was the deputy of the former Iraqi dictator, helping to lead Hussein's 1968 coup.

He and Hussein came from the same Tikriti tribal background.

His daughter was married to Hussein's eldest son Uday, who was killed by US forces in Mosul in July 2003.

He has been on the run since US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003.

Al-Douri has had a large bounty on his head for years, which has amounted to as much as £6million.
Following the execution of Hussein in December 2006, Al-Douri became the new leader of the banned Ba'ath Party.

Al-Douri led the Naqshbandi Order insurgent group, a key force behind the recent rise of IS.

Al-Douri was known as the 'King of Clubs'REUTERS
Al-Douri was known as the 'King of Clubs'
This comes after it was revealed that a former spy chief who served under Saddam was the mastermind of IS reign of terror. 

A newly-unearthed "blueprint" for the jihadi group’s murderous campaign has revealed how surveillance and espionage as well as kidnap and murder were all employed in a bid to gain control of Syria and Iraq.

The body shown on state TV today had a bright red beard, perhaps dyed, and a ginger-coloured moustache.


Al-Douri was a fair-skinned redhead with a ginger moustache, making him distinctive among Hussein's inner circle.

Reports of Al-Douri's death came as Iraqi forces are trying to push back Islamic State fighters in Salahuddin province, where Tikrit is located.

It was not the first time Iraqi officials have claimed to have killed or captured Al-Douri.
Al-Douria and Hussein came from the same Tikriti tribal backgroundREUTERS
Al-Douria and Hussein came from the same Tikriti tribal background

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