May 24, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21,1424

WASHINGTON, May 23: Uday Hussein, the feared elder son of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, is considering surrendering to US forces but is hesitant because of the way US officials are handling negotiations, The Wall Street Journal said on Friday.

The daily, citing a “third party” familiar with the talks, said Uday was hiding out in a suburb of Baghdad and, before turning himself in, wanted to know the specific accusations he faces, as well as the conditions under which he would be held and interrogated.

The negotiations were being conducted through intermediaries, according to the Journal.

But Lieutenant General David McKiernan, the commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq, denied any negotiations.

The Journal reported that US authorities do not appear particularly eager to strike a deal, because they believe Uday will be captured sooner or later.

A relative of Saddam’s said that the former Iraqi leader was also in Baghdad’s suburbs but was in “questionable mental health,” according to the paper.

Uday fears that Iraqis will kill him if they find him.—AFP