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| Iraq conflict: Saddam's tomb destroyed in Tikrit fighting | Iraq conflict: Saddam's tomb destroyed in Tikrit fighting |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The tomb of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been almost completely levelled in fighting near Tikrit. | The tomb of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been almost completely levelled in fighting near Tikrit. |
| Footage filmed by the Associated Press shows that all that remains standing of the once-lavish mausoleum in the village of al-Awja are some pillars. | |
| Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia militia are battling to drive Islamic State (IS) militants from Tikrit. | Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia militia are battling to drive Islamic State (IS) militants from Tikrit. |
| Last year, the local Sunni population said they had removed Saddam's body and taken it to an unknown location. | Last year, the local Sunni population said they had removed Saddam's body and taken it to an unknown location. |
| The capture of the tomb came as fighting intensified north and south of Tikrit on Sunday as Iraqi security forces vowed to reach the city centre within 48 hours. | The capture of the tomb came as fighting intensified north and south of Tikrit on Sunday as Iraqi security forces vowed to reach the city centre within 48 hours. |
| The footage shows the mausoleum, south of the city, reduced to concrete rubble. | The footage shows the mausoleum, south of the city, reduced to concrete rubble. |
| Poster-sized pictures of Saddam that once covered it have been replaced with Shia militia flags and pictures of militia leaders, including Iranian General Qassem Soleimani who advises the Shia militias. | Poster-sized pictures of Saddam that once covered it have been replaced with Shia militia flags and pictures of militia leaders, including Iranian General Qassem Soleimani who advises the Shia militias. |
| Militia leaders said IS put up a strong fight for the village, and left many bombs and booby-traps behind, says BBC Middle East correspondent Jim Muir. | |
| But there will be suspicions among many in Iraq's Sunni community that the tomb was deliberately destroyed by the Shia militias, he says. | |
| Their huge involvement in this push into the sensitive Sunni heartland has raised fears of sectarian repercussions. Sunni populations who have been displaced are fearful to return to areas now controlled by Shia militias eager to avenge IS massacres against their own community, our correspondent adds. | |
| 'Trap set' | |
| AP said that its crew was embedded with the Iraqi military and may have been subject to reporting restrictions. | AP said that its crew was embedded with the Iraqi military and may have been subject to reporting restrictions. |
| "This is one of the areas where IS militants massed the most because Saddam's grave is here," said Captain Yasser Numa, an official with the militias. | |
| "The IS militants set an ambush for us by planting bombs around." | "The IS militants set an ambush for us by planting bombs around." |
| IS said last August that the tomb had been completely destroyed but local officials denied this, saying it had been ransacked and suffered only minor damage. | IS said last August that the tomb had been completely destroyed but local officials denied this, saying it had been ransacked and suffered only minor damage. |
| Saddam Hussein, who was from Tikrit, was captured by US forces in 2003. | Saddam Hussein, who was from Tikrit, was captured by US forces in 2003. |
| An Iraqi tribunal convicted him of crimes against humanity for the killings of Shia Muslims and Kurds and hanged him in 2006. His body had been kept in the mausoleum since 2007. | An Iraqi tribunal convicted him of crimes against humanity for the killings of Shia Muslims and Kurds and hanged him in 2006. His body had been kept in the mausoleum since 2007. |
| It featured a marble octagon with a bed of fresh flowers at the centre, covering the place where the body was buried. | It featured a marble octagon with a bed of fresh flowers at the centre, covering the place where the body was buried. |
| According to Iraqi media, loyalists removed his remains last year amid fears that it would be disturbed in the fighting. | According to Iraqi media, loyalists removed his remains last year amid fears that it would be disturbed in the fighting. |
| Tikrit was overrun by IS last June and several hundred militants are believed to be holding out there. | Tikrit was overrun by IS last June and several hundred militants are believed to be holding out there. |
| The pro-government force ranged against them includes about 3,000 Iraqi troops with 20,000 Shia militiamen and a much smaller force of Sunni tribesmen. | The pro-government force ranged against them includes about 3,000 Iraqi troops with 20,000 Shia militiamen and a much smaller force of Sunni tribesmen. |
| Iraqi officials consider the city's recapture as a vital stepping stone to other IS-held territory, including Mosul - the country's second largest city. | Iraqi officials consider the city's recapture as a vital stepping stone to other IS-held territory, including Mosul - the country's second largest city. |