Iraq Denies 11 Assassination Suspects Killed

Iraq denied Thursday that 11 people have died while its security forces tried to detain suspects in the attempted assassination of Saddam Hussein’s eldest son, Odai.

“These claims are not true and they are baseless,” an Information Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press.

Iraqi dissidents said Wednesday that 11 people were killed Feb. 2 in the Baghdad suburb of Gre’at, which is believed to be mainly inhabited by Shiite Muslims who oppose Saddam’s regime.

They said the vicitms were members of one family accused of harboring suspects wanted in connection with the Dec. 12 attempt on Odai’s life.

Three agents also died, the dissidents said.