Iraqi President Saddam Hussein narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded outside one of his palaces minutes after he left the building, Israeli TV reported Friday.
Hundreds of army officers were arrested following the attempt on his life, which took place several days ago, said the station's Arab affairs commentator, Ehud Yaari.Dozens of officers have been executed, including members of Saddam's elite Republican Guard, Yaari told The Associated Press.
"It was a plot inside the army, but we don't know exactly who they were," said Yaari, who would not give the source of his information.
Yaari said many retired army officers had been recalled to active duty after the assassination attempt.
There have been several failed attempts to remove Saddam from power since the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
A former head of army intelligence, Maj. Gen. Wafiq al-Samarra'i, claimed earlier this month that several Republican Guard officers were arrested on charges that they were planning to assassinate Saddam and his two sons, Odai and Qusai.
Al-Samarra'i, who went into exile last year, told the Arab media that the discovery of the plot prompted Saddam to reorganize the elite force that protects him and his family.
Iraqi dissidents and Arab sources said July 12 that at least 50 officers, including two commanders, were arrested in June on suspicion of preparing for a military attack to topple Saddam.
The dissidents said all the suspects are Sunni Muslims.