NICOSIA. Cyprus. Oct 9: Saddam Hussein's security forces have rounded up bun dreds of prominent members of his Tlkriti clan and other Sunni Muslims who have long supported him. Iraqi rebels and other sources say. reports AP

The crackdown against Saddam's own minority sect indicates that after three years of UN sanctions and Iraq's Isolation. even those who have traditionally been a pillar of the Baghdad regime may be turning against it.

Secret police are everywhere in Baghdad, and it is difficult to assess whether Sunni disenchantment with Saddam has reached a point where it will affect his rule. Saddam is clearly still in control.

But by all accounts, the purge is Saddam's most exten-

sive since he crushed rebellions by Shl'fte Muslims and Kurdish separatists right after the 1991 Gulf War.

Sunni Muslims from 15 per cent of Iraq's 18 million people, but they have dominated the country for decades

Travelers from Iraq — mainly Arabs who move In knowledgeable Baghdad circles — report deepening disenchantment among the Sunnis, who fear that Saddam's confrontation with the United Nations Is drtv ing Iraq to ruin.

There have been' reports of several abortive coup plots or assassination attempts against Saddam over the last few weeks, some apparently impll eating Sunnis. None of these upheavals has been Independently confirmed.

But the current witeh-hunt Involves Sunnis of considerable

standlng. astratum of Iraqi society not before targeted In Saddams periodic purges against people he perceives to be a threat.

Iraqi dissidents and the trav ellers say that the people rounded up since July Include retired army officers, former government ministers and other Influential civilians. Some sources say many have been executed

Amnesty International, the London based human rights or ganlsation. reported last month that six prominent Tlkritls have been executed In recent week.

Some reports say Sunnia were implicated In a plot to mount a military coup in Baghdad July 17. as Saddam attended a parade marking the anniversary of hla Baath Party's 1968 seizure of power

Diplomats who monitor Iraq from Amman. Jordan, said that 10 army officers tried to kill Saddam near his presidential palace In Baghdad August 3 or 4 They said up to two dozen army officers and civilians were later executed.

Kubba and other usually reliable sources could not confirm the reported executions and Baghdad's state-run media has not mentioned any. But he and others said the families of prominent Tlkritla have confirmed many arrests.

Among the targeted Sunni clans are the Al-Jabouri. from northern and central Iraq, the Dulelmi. from the western province of Ramadi, who have links to Saudi Arabia; and the Shamar. from Mosul, who have links with Syria. Iraqi dissidents reported.