U.S. putting a bounty on Saddam, sons

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. government put a $25 million bounty on Saddam Hussein and $15 million on his sons Thursday, seeking to quell a spreading insurgency fueled by uncertainty over the ousted Iraqi leader's fate.

Saddam's capture is seen as crucial to ending anti-American resistance, which Thursday alone saw at least two Iraqis killed and 10 U.S. soldiers wounded.

"We believe it is important to do everything we can to determine his whereabouts, whether he is alive or dead, in order to assist in stabilizing the situation and letting the people of Baghdad be absolutely sure that he's not coming back," Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in Washington.

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The last reported sighting of Saddam was April 9 in the Azamiyah neighborhood of northeastern Baghdad as the capital fell. He was targeted by at least two major U.S. airstrikes, but there was never any proof either was successful. Based on information from captured colleagues, officials increasingly believe they were not.