US military to media: “Reports of Tariq Aziz’s death have been greatly exaggerated.”
Baghdad: The US military said on Saturday it had “absolute confirmation” that Tariq Aziz, Iraq’s former deputy prime minister, was still alive.“I can absolutely confirm that he is still alive,” Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson, spokesman for detainee operations in Iraq, told Reuters.He was speaking after media reports that Aziz had died in US custody.Colonel Johnson said rumours first surfaced on Friday that Aziz, who also once served as Iraq’s foreign minister under Saddam Hussein, had died in jail. He said those rumours were investigated and found to be baseless.“The reports are untrue. There is no change to his status,” he said. “Tariq Aziz is alive and well.”
Speaking of deaths, someone better check on Aussie actress Toni Collette (hat tip: Yobbo).
Collette said she had to feel optimistic about Latham.“Because I think I’ll slit my wrists if Howard gets in again.”
