U.N. Chief Urges Reconciliation Among Iraq's Political Factions

"He visited Amman just because 50 people were killed, while in Iraq hundreds die each day," said Abdullah Dulaimi, 36, who works in an electronics store. "After almost three years of suffering, he comes to Iraq. He came to say hello to the government and leave back to America."

Hassan Ali, 45, who was a brigadier general in the former army, also criticized the visit. "Kofi Annan's visit to Iraq means nothing for the Iraqis, but it means a lot to the Iraqi government and the American government. It will give them the political support and the political cover for whatever they are doing."

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports continued to circulate that Izzat Ibrahim Douri, who was a top deputy to ousted president Saddam Hussein, had died Friday. But in his home town of Dour, there were no signs of mourning that traditionally would be common after such a death. Many of the town's residents are related to Douri.

Douri is considered the highest-ranking member of Hussein's inner circle still at large -- the king of clubs in the U.S.-issued card deck of wanted Iraqis -- and is believed to be an important strategist in the Iraqi insurgency. The United States has offered a $10 million reward for his confirmed death or information leading to his capture.

News that Douri had died was initially posted on an Arabic-language Web site based in Britain. The announcement described Douri as the "leader of the Iraqi resistance" but did not provide details on where or how he might have died. Douri reportedly has leukemia.

At least three erroneous reports of his capture have surfaced since U.S. forces toppled Hussein's government in April 2003. There have been several reports that he might be intentionally spreading false information about himself.

"What the satellite channels announced is untrue," said Hammad Khaylif Douri, 33, a former intelligence officer in Dour.

Safaa Douri, a former member of Hussein's elite Special Republican Guard and now a police officer in the new Iraqi force, also dismissed the reports, saying the news was untrue "because if it is really true, huge demonstrations would happen here." The town was quiet Saturday.

Safaa Douri invited a Post correspondent to meet with Izzat Douri's main assistant in the town on the condition that the correspondent be blindfolded on the way there. They arrived at a house, and the correspondent met a man who identified himself as Abdul Qadir Douri, who appeared to be in his fifties.

"Izzat Douri is alive," he said, reacting angrily to the question about Douri's possible death.

It was not possible to independently verify the accounts about Douri.

Special correspondents Bassam Sebti, Naseer Nouri and K.I. Ibrahim in Baghdad and Salih Saif Aldin in Dour contributed to this report.