November 12, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A Baathist Web site that had earlier reported the death of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most senior Baathist leader still on the run, apologized Saturday and said that he was, in fact, still alive.

There was no immediate explanation for the contradictory statements, which left a question mark over the fate of al-Douri, 63, ranked as the King of Clubs in the most-wanted deck of cards issued by the U.S. military after the 2003 invasion.

The U.S. military and the Iraqi government said they had no information on the whereabouts or well-being of al-Douri, who is regarded as one of the top financiers and organizers of the Baathist wing of Iraq's insurgency.

The statement announcing that al-Douri had "made an appointment with his creator" was sent first to Agence France-Presse on Friday and then posted on a Baathist Web site early Saturday. In the evening, the statement was removed and a new one appeared declaring that "al-Douri is alive and well."

"We apologize to all brothers and sisters," the statement said. "We found out a little while ago from our brother Salah al-Mukhtar that this news has no truth at all and the mujahid (holy warrior) Izzat al-Douri is fine."

Al-Mukhtar is a former Iraqi envoy who runs the Web site on which Baathist statements are posted.

Al-Douri's death would not come as a surprise; he was known to have been suffering from leukemia for many years. Whether it would significantly affect the insurgency is unclear, however, because the influence of Saddam Hussein's loyalists has waned as the insurgency has evolved into a more complex and disparate rebellion, U.S. officials say.

The reports came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived unexpectedly in Iraq on his first visit since the invasion.

Annan said he had come to promote "reconciliation" ahead of Iraq's crucial election in December, one that could determine whether Iraq slides into civil war or manages to steer a course toward a more peaceful future. Four people died in a suicide bombing in a market in eastern Baghdad as Annan's daylong schedule of meetings got under way.

"The idea is that reconciliation is absolutely essential in Iraq," said Annan, whose visit came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew to Baghdad bearing a similar message.