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(Undated-AP) -- Playing card makers are mass-producing the deck of cards showing "Iraq's Most Wanted."

The original decks were used by U.S. soldiers to identify Iraqi government and military figures who are wanted by Washington.

Now Texas-based Liberty Playing Card Company is manufacturing the cards for wider distribution. Orders so far include several thousand decks for the American embassy in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Ohio-based United States Playing Card Company plans to produce at least 100-thousand decks for its own version of the cards. And it says the government's cards featured a "joker" image taken from one of its brands. The company says it has no problem with the government's use of the image -- but says it has sent at least a dozen letters warning competitors that it owns the "joker" symbol and they shouldn't use it.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 4/22/2003

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