OUJA (Iraq), Nov 1: US forces sealed the town of Ouja, the birthplace of ousted president Saddam Hussein, to count the adult population in an effort to root out suspected former loyalists hiding here.

Forces from the 4th Infantry Division were deployed on Thursday night around Ouja, 180kms north of Baghdad, in order to carry out a head count of the town’s adult population reported.

“This is an effort to protect the majority of the population who want to get on with their lives,” said Lieutenant Steven Russel.

“There are ties leading to this village, to the funding and planning of attacks against US soldiers,” he said.

Russel said the “operation would control access to Ouja ... to check people coming in and out.”

Ouja has a total population of 3,500. —AFP