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Saddam's son 'dreamed of replacing him'

June 17 2003

Picture: REUTERS
Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Uday.

Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday was an alcohol swilling, pill popping womaniser who lived in fear of the man he dreamed of replacing as Iraqi president, a woman claiming to be his housemaid said in a broadcast today.

The Iraqi woman, who identified herself only as "Jannat", told the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV station that she had worked in Uday's palace and her roles included preparing his drinks and food "and other services". She refused to elaborate.

Uday, who is No.3 on the US list of 55 most wanted Iraqi officials behind his father and younger brother, Qusai, also held weekly parties, inviting female and male friends, Jannat said in the interview conducted in Baghdad. Her face was concealed during the interview, which was monitored by AP in Lebanon.

Uday's whereabouts are unknown. There has been no sign of him since the fall of Baghdad to US-led coalition forces in April. Reports prior to the regime's collapse spoke of Uday being hit in one of the US strikes targeting the Iraqi leadership.


Jannat said she was driven along with Uday's mother, Sajida, his three sisters and their children from the palace to Diyala, a region east of the Iraqi capital, where they stayed for two days. Saddam's family later left to the ousted Iraqi president's birthplace at Tikrit, a region north of Baghdad where American forces have been engaging Saddam loyalists in recent days who have attacked US troops.

Syria has denied hosting Iraqi leaders, saying it stopped fleeing Iraqi officials at the border and turned back those who had slipped in. US officials had claimed that Damascus was harbouring Iraqi officials, but later said the Syrian government was cooperating with American efforts to round up Iraqis linked to Saddam's fallen regime.

Al-Arabiya also obtained a video dated November 23, 2000, showing Uday hosting a party attended by bellydancing women, some appearing to be foreigners, and men dressed in suits. During the footage, a casually dressed Uday was seen mainly sitting on a black leather couch, drinking from a clear bottle or a glass and talking to different women and men who sat alongside him. Uday is unable to walk freely because of injuries from an assassination attempt seven years ago.

At one stage, Uday drew a pistol tucked in his trousers and toyed with the weapon as people milled around him. At other times he was seen clapping and laughing, especially when a man collapsed - apparently drunk - in front of where he sat.

Jannat said Uday threw such parties almost weekly, except when his father was nearby, fearing he might drop in.



Qusay, regarded as articulate, secretive and scheming, was Saddam's favourite son and considered heir apparent to the Iraqi leadership after being made commander of an elite presidential guard unit in charge of his father's security.

In 1996, unknown gunmen sprayed bullets at Uday's Porsche, leaving him with a bullet in his spine that forced him to walk with a cane. The attack came after Uday had angered Saddam for personally killing a manservant who Uday had blamed for Saddam's estrangement from his mother, Sajida.

Al-Arabiya also interviewed a member of Uday's 18-member "elite bodyguard unit", identified only as Mohammed and whose face was also concealed.

The guard said he personally saw Uday shoot dead more than 20 people, among them a female doctor who visited from America, because she diagnosed him as being impotent. Her nationality was not specified.

Iraqi psychiatrist Adel Jashaami said after watching the interviews and footage that Uday was a "megalomaniac who grew under the influence of his domineering father, trying to hide an inferiority complex by violent acts against people close to him".

- AP



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