Television footage was aired today which purported to show Saddam Hussein and his son being mobbed on the streets of Baghdad on the same day US forces took over the city.
Abu Dhabi TV showed the pictures which were said to have been taken on April 9th. On that day in another part of the city Iraqis were attacking a statue of Saddam with a sledgehammer, a moment which symbolised the collapse of of his regime.
The television pictures were immediately picked up by other networks. But there was no independent confirmation that they were taken on April 9th or that the man shown was the real Saddam.
The footage showed what was said to be Saddam, in military uniform, climbing on top of a car and waving to hundreds of people, some of them armed and chanting his name.
A man beside him resembled his younger son and heir apparent Qusai. The crowd chanted: "With our bloods and souls we redeem you, oh Saddam", and jostled to touch the Iraqi dictator.
Abu Dhabi TV said it had been told the footage was taken on April 9th by the man who gave them the tape.
It was said to have been filmed in the Azamiyah area of Baghdad. He is believed to have filmed a number of pre-recorded speeches and appearances prior to the war which were broadcast later by Iraqi television.
He was also thought to have employed several look-a-likes.
AFP