Contradictory information of the fate of Barazan al-Takreiti

Iraqi official sources tried on Monday to deny information that has been recently leaked of the success of the two sons of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in alienating his half brother, Barazan al-Takreiti, from political life in Iraq and putting him under house arrest.

The sources expected the return of al-Takreiti, the former Iraqi ambassador to the UN headquarters in Europe, to key leading positions. The sources added that al-Takreiti will hold "a media meeting" in which he will announce his return to the political scenes after he recovered health problems.

Such statements have contradicted statements by informed Iraqi sources which said that President Hussein's two sons, Ode and Qusei, "were successful in being able to alienate Barazan from political life."

Earlier, well-informed Iraqi sources told the London-based al-Hayat daily on Saturday that al-Takreiti's health conditions have been "greatly deteriorated," adding that he has been "treated for a difficult disease." The same sources said on Monday that al-Takreiti underwent a health setback because of the "bad treatment he received while he was under house arrest."

An official source did not deny that Barazan has undergone a health problem" it stressed, "There is nothing which prevents his return back to a leading position."

Observers in Amman said the Iraqi president will seek to bring al-Takreiti back to the front in light of President Hussein's need to "bring together his tribal and family forces." The observers viewed this measure as an attempt to alleviate the tension among members of the ruling family in Iraq.

Conflict between Saddam and his two half brothers, Barazan and Watban, reached a crucial stage in the recent years.