The United States were weighing a decision to release graphic photos of the dead sons of Iraqi former President Saddam Hussein, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said Wednesday.

"We are still weighing the decision," Wolfowitz said at a news conference. But he hinted that Washington was leaning toward releasing the pictures.

"We are going to make sure the Iraqi people believe us at the end of the day," he said, hoping the release might reduce attacks on US troops in Iraq and quash Iraqi fear that Saddam will return to power.

US officials said the faces of Saddam's sons, Odai and Qusai were still recognizable despite the bodies were in a "pretty bad" shape.

In Baghdad, the top US commander, Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, said their identification were proved through dental records and other means.

Odai and Qusai were killed Tuesday by American troops in the northern city of Mosul in Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)