"I don't think anybody will mourn the demise of those two particular odious torturers and I think it will undoubtedly help reinforce the message to the people of Iraq that things have changed permanently and for the better," Robertson said at a press conference here.

"I think that message getting through undoubtedly will change the climate."

The US military confirmed Tuesday that Saddam's hated sons Uday and Qusay Hussein were killed in a raid on a house in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, although the ousted Iraqi leader himself remains at large.

"For those who, like Poland with the assistance of NATO is going into Iraq to bring stability, I think it should have a markedly improving boost to the atmosphere there," Robertson said.

Poland is leading a division of a multinational stabilisation force due to take over security in Iraq, where soldiers in the US-led coalition have come under almost daily attack from guerrillas.

WAR.WIRE