Iraqi defense minister under home arrest

The British Daily the Guardian said yesterday that the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered placing the Iraqi defense minister Lt. Gen. Sultan Hashem Ahmad under home arrest.

The Daily citing Iraqi opposition newspaper for this added "Last night one independent source in Baghdad contacted by the Guardian confirmed that Gen Sultan was in custody. "He continues to attend cabinet meetings and appear on Iraqi TV, so that everything seems normal," said the source, a high-ranking official with connections to Iraq's ruling Ba'ath party. "But in reality his house and family are surrounded by Saddam's personal guards. They are there so he can't flee."

The Guardian added that the daughter of Hashem is the wife of Qusai, the son of the Iraqi President.