2:31pm UK, Friday July 25, 2003

Police in Sweden say Iraq's former information minister could have been involved in the brutal murder of an Iraqi agent there 18 years ago.

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf - "Comical Ali" - became ambassador to Sweden shortly after the killing in 1985.

180 comical ali

Ex-minister pictured in UAE last month

Officers in Stockholm have confirmed they have received a tip-off claiming he was implicated.

Iraqi Majid Husain had sought asylum in Sweden and planned to tell officials about Iraq's security apparatus and agents in Europe, it is reported.

But he disappeared - his body was found two months later chopped into 54 pieces and stuffed into two suitcases.

Police have long suspected two men and a woman of carrying out the murder for the Iraqi regime.

But their investigations were hampered all the time Saddam Hussein was in power.

It is not clear to what extent it is alleged al-Sahaf was implicated - or what police intend to do now.

Al-Sahaf was last seen last month when he arrived in the United Arab Emirates and indicated he would be staying there with his family.

He gained worldwide fame, and his nickname, for the way he presented the Iraqs' viewpoint of the war.

He frequently denied the Coalition forces were winning the battle - and on one occasion denied tanks were in Baghdad when they could clearly be seen and heard right behind him.