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Iraq security overhauled

after defection - paper

BAGHDAD: The Iraqi leadership has overhauled its security arrangements following the defection of President Saddam Hussein's chief bodyguard, an official Baghdad newspaper said on Wednesday.

The English-language Baghdad Observer said the storm created by the defections would soon pass. It dismissed foreign speculation that Saddam's government might soon fall as wishful thinking.

Lieutenant Colonel Saddam Kamel Hassan, who headed the presidential guard unit, and his brother Lieutenant-General Hussein Kamel Hassan, the brains behind Iraq's military industries, defected to Jordan with their wives -- the president's daughters -- on August 8.

The Observer said the Iraqi leadership had tackled whatever adverse effects the defections might have had "by introducing some radical changes on the security arrangements that have been under the supervision of Hussein Kamel's brother".

Baghdad newspapers on Wednesday also highlighted perceived differences between Egypt and Jordan on how to approach the Iraq issue.

They carried reports of Egyptian media criticism of King Hussein of Jordan which said he had sold-out Iraq for regional gains.

After welcoming the defectors, King Hussein last week made a speech in which he changed Amman's so-far friendly policy towards Iraq and hit out at Saddam's government.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has implicitly criticised the King's speech and downplayed assertions by Hussein Kamel that Iraq was about to attack Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The Baghdad newspapers also front-paged a report saying Cairo turned down a request by one of the Iraqi defectors to visit Egypt and meet Mubarak.