The Iraqi vice president said Sunday that U.S. prisoners of war had been captured and would soon be shown on television.
"Within hours you will watch American prisoners on TV screens and you will see films of burnt tanks at Suk al-Shoukh," said Taha Yassin Ramadan, referring to a town about 20 miles southeast of Nasiriyah, which coalition troops said they had captured Saturday. Ramadan, the most senior Iraqi official to appear in public since war broke out four days ago, made the claim during a news conference in Baghdad.

A coalition spokesman denied the claim, and also rejected Iraqi claims that U.S. or British aircraft had been shot down.

"We have no knowledge of any of our coalition people being taken prisoner of war," said Capt. Al Lockwood, spokesman for British forces in the Gulf.

In other remarks, Ramadan denied that U.S. special forces were in Baghdad.

"We have allowed them to cross the desert," he said "I tell you, we wish and beg that they come to Baghdad so that we will teach a lesson to this evil administration and all who cooperate with her."

He also denied speculation that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been injured in the attacks.

"I think for the past four days you have the president on television," he said. "You have seen the president more than once."

There were unconfirmed reports that Ramadan himself may have been wounded in the initial coalition air strike.

PHOTO CAPTION

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, right, is shown in this image from video speaking during a news conference Sunday, March 23, 2003, in Baghdad. The Iraqi vice president claimed Sunday that U.S. prisoners of war had been captured and would soon be shown on television.(AP Photo/APTN)