Blast at grave of Saddam's father - residents

TIKRIT, Iraq, Feb 28: Residents of Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit said today (Feb 28, 2006) there was a blast at the grave of the toppled leader's father today but police had no confirmation of the report.

If the reports are true, they could reignite sectarian passions after the bombing of a Shi'ite shrine last week triggered postwar Iraq's gravest crisis and killed at least 200 people.

Saddam, whose Arab Sunni minority dominated the country under his regime but lost power to Shi'ites and Kurds after he was toppled in 2003, was due to appear in court when his trial resumes today.

REUTERS