The former intelligence chief flew into Jordan denying any differences with the Iraqi leadership and with Saddam Hussein's powerful son, Uday.

The BBC's Chiaka Nwosu: Tikriti risks execution in returning to Iraq

"I have not come to Amman. I have come on my way to Baghdad," Mr Tikriti told reporters.

"There are no differences, what differences?" he asked.

Mr Tikriti served as ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva for more than a decade, but was among about 30 ambassadors recalled to Baghdad when his term ended three months ago.

Barzan Tikriti in transit at Amman airport

Under Swiss law he had until the end of November to leave. His wife died a week ago in a Swiss clinic where she was being treated for cancer.

"I did not seek political asylum (in Switzerland)," Mr Tikriti said.

"I was not a refugee or an exile. I was an ambassador...I led a delegation. I had daily contact with Baghdad."

Iraqi officials in Amman said Mr Tikriti would leave later on Sunday on the land journey to Baghdad.

BBC's Middle East Analyst Roger Hardy: "Tikriti no ordinary diplomat"

"My work in Switzerland is over. It ended in special circumstances, unfortunately a tragic end," Mr Tikriti said.

He also denied that he was responsible for Iraqi intelligence in Europe.

"Sometimes they say "Barzan prepares the equipment needed for Iraq's strategic armament...Then they start to say Barzan is a dissident, Barzan is at odds with the regime...and if he goes back he will be killed.

"These are fabrications," Mr Tikriti said.

Family troubles

In 1995, a few weeks after Mr Tikriti's brother, Watban was wounded in what diplomats said was a row with the the Iraqi president's eldest son Uday, Mr Tikriti slammed Uday as "greedy and unfit for power" in a newspaper interview.

He also dismissed reports that he was joining Saddam Hussein's son-in-law Lieutenant-General Hussein Kamel, who had defected to Jordan, inflicting a serious blow on the Iraqi president.

Kamel later went back to Baghdad and was killed within days of his return, reportedly by Uday Hussein.