Fed: Australian defence heads don't know if Saddam is alive

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Fed: Australian defence heads don't know if Saddam is alive

CANBERRA, April 4 AAP - Australian defence chiefs said today they did not know whetherIraqi President Saddam Hussein was dead or alive but it didn't matter because his regimewas still in control.

Royal Australian Air Force Chief Angus Houston said he honestly did not know whetherthe Iraqi leader was still alive but suspected he probably was.

"The regime continues to function, so presumably he's still at the helm," he told ABC radio.

"But I couldn't answer that question."

Australian Defence Force spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan said the fact the Iraqi regimewas still in control made the question of Saddam's status almost irrelevant.

Asked if he had information about his wellbeing, Brigadier Hannan replied: "We reallydon't have anything positive to contribute to that debate.

"In some senses it doesn't matter.

"The regime is still functioning and in place and until such time as it's brought downthen operations will continue."

Air Marshal Houston said there was a possibility Iraq had chemical weapons even thoughthere had been no evidence of them being used against coalition forces.

"We hope that weapons of mass destruction are not used but we do still continue tobe concerned about the fact that chemical weapons could be used at some time," he said.

AAP sm/sb/tnf/de

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST SADDAM