Tariq Aziz defection rumour

US officials said rumours that Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz had either defected to US authorities or was shot trying to flee Baghdad were untrue.

MPs in the House of Commons earlier heard that the Foreign Office was investigating rumours that Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi deputy prime minister, defected to Northern Iraq.

Junior Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien said the rumours came from a Bulgarian source.

Labour's Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley), in a point of order, said: "We do have reports that are as yet unconfirmed that Tariq Aziz has defected to Northern Iraq to Kurdish Democratic Party territory.

"It would be very useful to have a statement if that is confirmed."

Mr O'Brien said: "We too have heard these rumours and we are seeking confirmation, or not, of them."

The rumours affected oil prices in New York trading and also circulated in financial markets as the 8pm (0100 GMT Thursday) deadline approached that President George W. Bush set for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq or face war.

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