Conflicting Claims On Two Different Terra Websites

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBPEOHPYFE.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Conflicting claims emerged Saturday over the reported death of Saddam Hussein's chief lieutenant - believed by the United States to have played the key role in organizing the insurgency and the highest-ranking fugitive at large from the former regime.

A Baathist Web site reported his death on Saturday, but another Web site, also purporting to carry statements from the banned party, maintained Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri was still alive and apologized for the death report. A relative in Iraq said the family was unsure.

"In the pure land of Iraq, the soul of comrade Izzat Ibrahim returned to God on Friday at dawn," one statement said. It described al-Douri as the "field commander of the heroic resistance" and was signed by the Baath party's "political media and publishing office." snip

Such confusion over al-Douri's possible death was reminiscent of the numerous, erroneous reports of his arrest since he disappeared after the collapse of the regime in April 2003. The extent of his role in the insurgency has also been in dispute.