The following information is additional to that available in your Regional Documentation Centres.

According to AFP, Fedayeen Saddam

is a volunteer army commanded by President Saddam Hussein's oldest son Uday with the role of "defending Iraq against any foreign conspiracy or aggression" (27 May 1999).

In 1997, AFP reported that

Iraqi volunteers signed up en masse to serve in the paramilitary group "Fedayin (fighters) of Saddam" to defend Iraq" (8 Nov. 1997).

As earlier as 19 June 1995, AFP indicated that membership in the Fedayeen Saddam is voluntary, information later corroborated by the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (12 June 1999). The Federation of American Scientists' Website reported that "the Fedayeen, [...] is composed of young soldiers recruited from regions loyal to Saddam" (26 Nov. 1997).

For a period, Saddam Hussein transferred the control of the Fedayeen Saddam to is second son, Qusay Hussein (Al-Sharq Al-Awsat 21 Mar. 1996). According to FAS' Website,

in September 1996 Uday was removed from command of the Fedayeen. Uday's removal may have stemmed from an incident in March 1996 when Uday transferred sophisticated weapons from Republican Guards to the Saddam Fedayeen without Saddam's knowledge (ibid.).

In a March 1998 report, Jane's Intelligence Review reported that Musahim Saab Al-Hasim, "a relative of Saddam and a powerful figure in Iraq", was the head of the Fedayeen Saddam (23). In 1997, FAS named Staff Lieutenant General Mezahem Saab Al Hassan Al-Tikriti as deputy commander of the force (ibid.). The unit reports directly to the Presidential Palace (FAS ibid.). The Fedayeen is "a politically reliable force that can be counted on to support Saddam against domestic opponents" (ibid.).

The documentation is inconsistent on the year the Fedayeen Saddam was created. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Website entitled "Saddam's Martyrs ["Men of Sacrifice"] Fedayeen Saddam,"

The paramilitary Fedayeen Saddam (Saddam's `Men of Sacrifice') was founded by Saddam's son Uday in 1995 (26 Nov. 1997).

However, AFP stated repeatedly that the organization was founded in late 1994 (27 May 1999; 28 Nov. 1998; 19 Nov. 1998).

Estimates regarding membership also vary. El Pais from Madrid indicated that in 1996 the Fedayeen Saddam are "more than 8,000 men" (16 Mar. 1996). In contrast, in 1997 FAS indicated that the organization is between 30,000 and 40,000 troops (ibid.).

Recruiting techniques include publicity on youth and national television, rallies, summer camps and public announcements (AFP 27 May 1999; 8 Nov. 1997). Candidates can enroll through the General Union of Iraqi Youth (AFP 8 Nov. 1997).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 May 1999. "Iraq Urges Chgildren to Boost Saddam's Fedayin Force". (NEXIS)

_____. 28 November 1998. "Iraq Arrests 39 After Attack on Saddam's Deputy" (NEXIS)

_____. 19 November 1998. "UN Pursues Arms Inspection, Iraq Scoffs at US Call for Saddam Overthrow". (NEXIS)

_____. 8 November 1997. "Iraqi Youth Rush to Join Fedayin of Saddam: Iraqi Official". (NEXIS)

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat [London, in Arabic]. 21 March 1996. "Iraq: Saddam's Son Udayy to Assume 'Greater Responsibilities'". (FBIS-NES-96-056 21 Mar. 1996/WNC)

El-Pais [Madrid, in Spanish]. 16 March 1996. "Iraq: Opposition Sources Claim Saddam 'Hostage' to Udayy". (FBIS-NES-96-054 16 Mar. 1996/WNC)

Federation of American Scientists (FAS). 26 November 1997. "Saddam's Martyrs ["Men of Sacrifice"] Fedayeen Saddam". http://www.fas.org/irp/world/iraq/fedayeen/ [Accessed 28 June 2000]

Jane's Intelligence Review. March 1998. Sean Boyne. "Iraq's MIO: Ministry of Missing Weapons".