AP 
 
Baghdad, Jul 3: Saddam Hussein's wife and eldest daughter are among 41 people on the Iraqi government's most wanted list, with the new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, a top official announced Sunday.

National security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie said the former al-Qaeda boss, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had been buried secretly in Baghdad despite his family's demand that the body be returned to Jordan. Al-Zarqawi died June 7 from a US airstrike northeast of Baghdad.

Al-Rubaie told reporters the government was releasing the most wanted list "so that our people can know their enemies."

Saddam's wife, Sajida Khairallah Tulfah, was No 17, just behind the ousted leader's eldest daughter, Raghad. Sajida is believed to be in Qatar, and Raghad lives in Jordan where she was given refuge by King Abdullah II.

"We have contacted all the neighbouring countries and they know what we want. Some of these countries are cooperating with us," al-Rubaie said. "We will chase them inside and outside Iraq. We will chase them one after the other, " he added.

Iraqi officials have long alleged that Saddam's relatives who fled the country have been financing insurgent groups linked to the former ruling Baath party. Raghad has played a leading role in organising her father's legal defence against charges stemming from his 23-year rule.