Chemical Ali's body found

British troops were today virtually certain they have found the body of Chemical Ali - one of the regime's most bloodthirsty killers - in what would be one of the key moments of the war.

A senior British commander said Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and commander of the southern region, was killed when US planes bombed his house.

Major Andrew Jackson of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, said his superiors had confirmed the death during a briefing earlier in the day. The body being examined by Army doctors for absolute confirmation was found in Basra along with that of his bodyguard and the head of Iraqi intelligence services.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said today there was "strong indication" that Chemical Ali had been killed in the raid on Friday night. "I can't yet absolutely confirm the fact that he is dead, but that will be certainly my best

judgment of the situation," he said. Senior military sources say they are more than 90 per cent certain they have the right body.

Iraq's information minister earlier denied that coalition bombs had killed al-Majid, who gained his nickname after Saddam's forces used poison gas on Kurdish villages in 1988. His were "massively relieved and delighted" by news of his almost certain death. Even mention of his name strikes terror.

British soldiers today believe they have uncovered Chemical Ali's Basra storage site. Royal Marine Commandos unearthed the building, in the south-east suburbs of Basra, during their second offensive last night.