LONDON, April 7: British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said on Monday there were strong indications that “Chemical Ali”, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s powerful cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, was dead.

But Mr Hoon told reporters he was still unsure where President Saddam himself and his sons were.

“We are still not sure of the location of either Saddam Hussein or his sons — there are reports beginning to come in as to the whereabouts of some of those three,” he said.

“As far as Ali Hassan al-Majid is concerned, we have some strong indications that he was killed...but I can’t yet absolutely confirm the fact.”

In what would be a major blow to President Saddam’s power structure, the British military think they have found the body of Ali Majid after a bombing raid on his home in Basra on Saturday, but officials are still awaiting confirmation.

Mr Hoon emphasized it was only a matter of time before Saddam was toppled and said the operating ability of the president’s elite Republican Guard had been cut by at least 50 per cent.—Reuters