Iraq's Aziz Shows Up to Scotch Defection Rumors
Wed March 19, 2003 01:12 PM ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz met reporters in Baghdad on Wednesday dressed in military uniform and with a pistol strapped to his belt, scotching rumors he had defected or been shot trying to flee.
"For me, as well as for ... the courageous Iraqi leadership, we were born in Iraq and we will die in Iraq -- either as martyrs, which is a great honor, or naturally," said Aziz, one of the closest aides of President Saddam Hussein.
The rumors Aziz had defected or been killed affected oil prices in New York trading and also circulated in financial markets as the 0100 GMT Thursday deadline approached that President Bush set for Saddam and his sons to leave Iraq or face war.
Rumors of the imprisonment, flight or death of members of Saddam's administration are not uncommon but have rarely turned out to have any basis in fact.
Aziz repeated that it was "impossible" that Saddam would choose to go into exile as demanded by Bush.
"If he (Bush) decides to continue his aggression, it won't be a picnic for him," he said. "It is going to be a bloody war and it will take a long time."
"Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man." - The Dude, 1998