A photograph purporting to show Saddam Hussein being dragged from his squalid hide-out has been published on the internet.
Unofficial US army website www.military.com published the picture which was reportedly taken by a US soldier.
It appears to contradict the official version of Saddam's arrest in which he was said to have given himself up without a struggle.
In the photograph, he is pictured pinned to the ground by a GI who the former dictator had allegedly spat at moments earlier. His face is in the dirt and his arms appear to be bound behind his back.
US military spokesman refused to confirm whether or not the pictures were genuine but said it was possible.
"A lot of soldiers carry happy snappy cameras with them," the spokesman said.
Saddam was arrested after he was found in a 6ft by 3ft hidey-hole at Ad Dawr, near Tikrit, by US soldiers last month.
Story filed: 10:21 Thursday 8th January 2004
Cop the mug on that GI willya - makes ol' Saddam look like Elvis.
