A Qatar newspaper, Al-Raya, claims that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon paid a brief visit to Baghdad on Sunday to secretly meet former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Al-Raya, citing Nasser Mahmoud – a top Iraqi politician with close links to the interim council, reported "Sharon, accompanied by intelligence officers, landed at around 8:00 PM at the Baghdad airport."
According to the report, top civil administrator Paul L. Bremer received the Israeli leader and accompanied him during the meeting with Saddam Hussein.
Mahmoud added, according to the report, that during a meeting with Bremer after his arrival in Baghdad, Sharon had asked to see Saddam in person.
Following the meeting with Saddam, the report claims Sharon praised Bremer and the U.S. army on the capture of Saddam Hussein and said it "strengthens the U.S. victory in Iraq".
The article concluded by mentioning that Israel had transferred intelligence to the U.S. forces in Iraq, which helped capture Saddam Hussein.
In Iraq, rumors quickly spread that Sharon had spent the night in Baghdad following his short meeting with Saddam.
On Wednesday, however, the Prime Minister's office issued a complete denial, refuting the Qatari report. “There was no such event,” said a PMO official.
Al-Raya, citing Nasser Mahmoud – a top Iraqi politician with close links to the interim council, reported "Sharon, accompanied by intelligence officers, landed at around 8:00 PM at the Baghdad airport."
According to the report, top civil administrator Paul L. Bremer received the Israeli leader and accompanied him during the meeting with Saddam Hussein.
Mahmoud added, according to the report, that during a meeting with Bremer after his arrival in Baghdad, Sharon had asked to see Saddam in person.
Following the meeting with Saddam, the report claims Sharon praised Bremer and the U.S. army on the capture of Saddam Hussein and said it "strengthens the U.S. victory in Iraq".
The article concluded by mentioning that Israel had transferred intelligence to the U.S. forces in Iraq, which helped capture Saddam Hussein.
In Iraq, rumors quickly spread that Sharon had spent the night in Baghdad following his short meeting with Saddam.
On Wednesday, however, the Prime Minister's office issued a complete denial, refuting the Qatari report. “There was no such event,” said a PMO official.