World IN BRIEF : IRAQ : U.S. Officials Report Big Military Purge

A major purge has begun in Iraq’s military after reports of a coup attempt against President Saddam Hussein, the New York Times quoted U.S. officials as saying. The reports of the purge added detail to sketchy descriptions of unrest in Baghdad, the newspaper said. It quoted unnamed Bush Administration officials as saying the reports, which have been denied by Baghdad, have caused the United States and its allies to step up plans to weaken Hussein. One official reportedly said the United States was involved in the coup plot.