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US Forces Capture Saddam's Half-Brother By Abayomi Oni with agency reports
Saddam Hussein's half-brother was captured yesterday by US-led special forces in Baghdad, says US Central Command.
US Army Brigadier-General Vincent Brooks said Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, the former head of Iraqi intelligence, was captured alone following a tip-off by Iraqis. The announcement was welcome by human rights groups, who accuse him of human rights abuses on a massive scale. Report says that although Barzan al-Tikriti is fairly low down on the coalition's most wanted list, his capture will be of huge significance for both the US and human rights organisations. Brooks told his regular briefing in Qatar: "Early this morning, coalition special operations forces, supported by US Marines, captured Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti. "Barzan is...an adviser to the former regime leader with extensive knowledge of the regime's inner working. There were no friendly or enemy casualties," he added. It had been thought he was killed last week when his home was targeted by an air strike. "We are currently asking a number of questions and finding out whatever we can from this capture," said Brooks. "He will be questioned over coming days and information may point us in the direction of the inner workings of the regime." Barzan al-Tikriti ran the Iraqi intelligence service between 1979 and 1983 before becoming Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations. He is number 52 on the American list of 55 most wanted Iraqis and the second of Saddam's three brothers to be taken. His brother Watban Ibrahim al-Tikriti was arrested near the Syrian border at the weekend. Human rights groups regard him as one of the most enthusiastically sadistic members of Saddam's inner circle. In other developments: |
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