US pays informant reward for Saddam's sons

WASHINGTON - The informant who helped lead the US military to ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's two sons has been paid most of a US$30 million ($44.1 million) reward for the tip-off, the State Department said on Saturday.

"The informant who gave us information on the whereabouts of Uday and Qusay Hussein has been paid the bulk of the reward within the last couple of days, and has control over payment of the balance of the reward," said State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore. "The informant and his family have been relocated."

Uday and Qusay Hussein were killed in a firefight with American troops in July, in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The US government had offered a US$15 million reward for information leading to the capture of each son and a US$25 million reward for their father.

Saddam surrendered to American forces in December and is being held US custody. No reward is expected to paid for Saddam's capture because he was located by the US military.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq