NTV: Jalal al-Talibani proposed to give shelter to Saddam Hussein's wife and daughters

The chairman of the Kurdistani National Federation in Iraq Jalal al-Talibani announced yesterday in Iraq in an interview with the Turkish NTV channel that he had proposed to the wife and daughters of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to receive and host them.

The Iraqi Kurdish leader stressed he had received a message from a "friend" on the fate of Saddam Hussein's wife and daughters but did not disclose the content of the message. He agreed to host them. Talibani said " If they are willing to come to northern Iraq we will receive them and will live in peace." He considered that they are not responsible for the deeds of the former president. He refused to disclose the place where the women are, stressing he does not have information on the fate of Saddam Hussein and his two sons Qusai and Ode.

The American- British coalition is searching for the former Iraqi president after arresting some 20 of the wanted Iraqi leaders including the deputy primi minister Tareq Aziz.