Saddam Hussein's half-brother, Barzan al-Takriti, died on Friday morning in a US bombing of his farm, in the region of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, a family friend said.
Al-Takriti had been placed under house arrest by Saddam on March 5 in a presidential palace in Jadriya, near Baghdad airport, the source said. When US troops entered Baghdad, he fled to his farm in Ramadi, 100 kilometres away.
"His family, living in Europe, told me he died as a martyr this morning," the source said.
US Central Command said earlier on Friday that Barzan had been targeted by air strikes in Ramadi with six "smart bombs". Saddam had put him under house arrest for contesting his wish that the former Iraqi leader's younger son, Qusay, succeed him should he be killed, the friend said. (Albawaba.com)
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