US forces in Iraq have captured Saddam Hussein’s residential secretary, Abdel Hamid Mahmoud, the fourth most wanted official of the former regime, a US defence official said on Wednesday.
The US also raided two farmhouses near the Iraqi town of Tikrit on Wednesday, seizing millions of dollars in cash and about 20 people associated with members of the former regime’s special security services, including a bodyguard of Saddam Hussein, a US commander said.
Major General Ray Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said the raids were continuing at two other locations in the area where about 30 suspected Special Republican Guard forces were cornered by US forces.
Forces guarding the two farms outside Tikrit put up no resistance, he said in a video conference from Baghdad with Pentagon reporters.
”We detained 15 to 20 individuals associated with Saddam’s special security forces,” he said. One of the detainees was known to be have been a bodyguard of the Iraqi leader.
Odierno said his soldiers seized $8,5-million dollars in cash, 300 to 400-million Iraqi dinars, uncounted Euros and British pounds, as well as large cash of gems and jewels valued at over a million dollars.
One man, who was tracked by an unmanned spy plane as he fled a farm house in a vehicle, was captured with an additional $800 000 in cash, Odierno said.
”In addition, we confiscated late model Russian-made night vision goggles, sniper rifles, uniforms and equipment off Saddam’s personal guard.
”We continue to work hard and I believe over the next three to four days, you will hear much more about the number of senior Iraqi individuals we have detained here over the last couple of days.” – Sapa-AFP