Top Saddam regime fugitive al-Douri arrested

MSNBC ^ | 09/05/04 | MSNBC

[Royal Guardsman]

On MSNBC now.

[Allegra]

I just want to see a gallon milk jug full of botox or anthrax. That would be a stockpile, wouldn't it?

John Kerry used up all the botox.

But there's other stuff.

[MEG33]

I love sarcasm..I use it subtly at times..I never want to label it..but I am compelled to do so after the fast misreading of my intent too many times...It does ruin it for me,though!

[TexKat]

US Denies Holding Saddam's Deputy

The US is contradicting reports that Saddam Hussein's former second-in-command, Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, is in its custody after being arrested in northern Iraq. The Iraqi defence ministry said al Douri was captured by the US military while receiving medical treatment at a clinic near Tikrit. But a statement from the US military later said: "We do not have Izzat Ibrahim al- Douri in custody."

Al Douri is the highest-ranking member of Saddam's government still at large.

Once the vice-chairman of the Baath Party's Revolutionary Command Council, he was a long-time confidant of Saddam.

Iraqi information official Ibrahim Janabi said: "We are sure he is Izzat Ibrahim. He was arrested in a clinic in Makhoul near Tikrit and Adwar (his hometown)."

DNA tests were being carried out to confirm the man's identity.

In Kuwait, Iraqi Minister of State Qassim Dawoud confirmed al Douri's arrest. At a news conference, Qassim said some 150 others who were defending him were also arrested.

Al Douri is No.6 on America's wanted list and US forces offered a £5.5m bounty for his arrest.

US military officials believe he has been helping to organise the insurgency.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well the AP report says the Iraqi's have him and the US Forces, who supported the operation, say we don't know whether they have him, and the reporter has decided that means WE don't have him..... in OUR Custody...... another shot at denying credit to the US forces......???

[TexKat]

Former Saddam Deputy Arrested in Iraq

Unfortunately no he was not.

Alex Witt/MSNBC just reiterated that the U.S. has stated that is not who they have in custody. It is not al-Douri.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the AP post at #140.......

U.S. military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said al-Douri - who was Saddam's right-hand man before the regime cell - was not in U.S. custody and that they were waiting to hear more from the Iraqis.

[TexKat]

Well the AP report says the Iraqi's have him and the US Forces, who supported the operation, say we don't know whether they have him, and the reporter has decided that means WE don't have him..... in OUR Custody...... another shot at denying credit to the US forces......???

Have it your way. Time will tell.

[Allegra]

said al-Douri - who was Saddam's right-hand man before the regime cell - was not in U.S. custody and that they were waiting to hear more from the Iraqis.

We're hearing here that they don't have him. But even this is spotty information.

I guess we'll know one way or the other soon.

[MEG33]

Well I knew that from the beginning.....Not knowing if it is true is different from "it is absolutely false that he has been captured".

Anxiously awaiting absolutely true or false!

[MEG33]

Thanks Allegra.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Maybe this will clear up with more reporters getting off their duff, course they are all in Baghdad safe in the hotels....

From Reuters..................

___________________________________________________________________________

Iraq Government Says Captures Most-Wanted Saddam Aide Sun Sep 5, 2004 11:02 AM ET By Waleed Ibrahim and Tom Perry BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi and U.S. forces arrested a man believed to be the most-wanted Saddam Hussein aide still on the run in a bloody raid in which 70 of his supporters were killed and 80 captured, the Iraqi government said on Sunday. But the U.S. military cast doubt on the report, saying Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri -- who was sixth on the U.S. list of the 55 most-wanted members of Saddam's regime and had a $10 million price on his head -- was not in its custody. "Multi-National Force Iraq confirms that we do not have Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri in custody," a military statement said. The U.S. military said it had no information on whether Ibrahim was in Iraqi custody. The Iraqi defense ministry had said Ibrahim was captured in Tikrit, Saddam's hometown and powerbase north of Baghdad. Iraqi Minister of State Wael Abdul al-Latif told Reuters it was "75 to 90 percent certain" the captured man was Ibrahim. He said 70 of the man's supporters were killed and 80 captured when they tried to prevent him being seized. Latif said Arabs from outside Iraq were among the people protecting the captured man, who was suffering from leukemia. "He's in a very deteriorated state of health," he said. The U.S. military has said Ibrahim was directly involved in organizing and funding attacks on U.S. forces since the downfall of Saddam. In a deck of cards issued to US troops to help them identify fugitives, Ibrahim was the King of Clubs. The news spread fast in Baghdad, and in some Shi'ite districts residents fired AK-47s in the air in celebration. "He is the symbol of the former regime," said retired civil servant Abbas al-Kabbi, 50. "It is the end of a bloody criminal regime." Ibrahim was Saddam's number two in the Revolutionary Command Council and held a senior post on a government committee in charge of northern Iraq when chemical weapons were used against the town of Halabja in 1988, killing thousands of Kurds. The red-haired Ibrahim was born in 1942 near Tikrit, 160 km (100 miles) north of Baghdad, the son of an ice seller. Ibrahim was one of Saddam's top aides and most trusted confidants. His daughter was briefly married to Saddam's elder son Uday, bonding him within the ruling elite. The top five on the U.S. most-wanted list, including Saddam, his sons Uday and Qusay, and "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid, have already been captured or killed. The seventh most-wanted man, Special Security Organization Director Hani Abd Latif Tilfah al-Tikriti, is still at large. WELCOME BOOST FOR GOVERNMENT If confirmed, the news will be a welcome boost for Iraq's interim government as it tries to crush a deadly insurgency and grapples with a hostage crisis. France's government said on Sunday it remained hopeful that two French hostages would be freed, although its foreign minister returned empty-handed from a Middle East mission intended to secure their release. "We have serious reasons to believe both of them are in good health and that a favorable outcome is possible," Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told reporters after discussing the hostage crisis with President Jacques Chirac. "Our top priority today remains to secure their release. Our priority is their safety," he said. "We are working hard, calmly, cautiously and discreetly." Journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were seized on Aug. 20 by militants from the Islamic Army in Iraq, who demanded Paris rescind a law banning Muslim headscarves in state schools. France refused the demands and the law went into force on Thursday. France was shocked to be caught up in the hostage crisis as it opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and has no troops there. An influential hardline Sunni cleric on Sunday added his voice to calls by Muslim groups to release the men. "We've issued a fatwa saying that these two French hostages must be released quickly," Sheikh Mehdi al-Sumaidaie said. Militant groups waging a bloody insurgency against the U.S.-backed interim Iraqi government have turned to kidnapping foreigners as part of a campaign to force firms and foreign troops to leave Iraq. About two dozen foreign hostages have been killed, some of them beheaded. Police said on Sunday the body of an Egyptian who was kidnapped last month had been found in northern Iraq. The body of the Egyptian, who was snatched on Aug. 27, was found on Saturday at a roadside near the town of Baiji, 180 km (112 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. They said the body bore signs of torture, with hands and legs bound together. Al Jazeera reported that four new Jordanian hostages had also been seized. A group called the "Falluja Mujahideen" sent a video tape to the Arabic-language channel saying the four men were drivers transporting materials to U.S. forces. (Additional reporting by Ibon Villelabeitia and Omar Anwar in Baghdad and Timothy Heritage in Paris)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Reuter's report we have this:

___________________________________________________________________

Iraqi Minister of State Wael Abdul al-Latif told Reuters it was "75 to 90 percent certain" the captured man was Ibrahim. He said 70 of the man's supporters were killed and 80 captured when they tried to prevent him being seized.

Latif said Arabs from outside Iraq were among the people protecting the captured man, who was suffering from leukemia.

"He's in a very deteriorated state of health," he said.

________________________________________________________________________

My comments follow////

That is a lot of people protecting someone of importance, some symbolic figure, lots of foreign fighters involved......

So that does seem believable.....if not al-Douri .....then who were they protecting....?? Zaraqawi??????

That would be an even bigger catch.....but surely the two wouldn't be confused......

[Grampa Dave]

"That guy!! The weird Scottish/Monty-looking guy!!! Hoot mon!"

Thank, you! As I looked at this murdering SOB, I kept thinking he looks like the few Red Headed Scots that I have known. They are not as handsome as we Scots with the regular black Scottish hair which turns silver as we age like fine wines.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the ping!

Another mass murderer gets caught.

This will sadden the lunatic lefties who are in love with mass murdering thugs like this one.

[MEG33]

I am at a loss!...Many fought to the death for something or someone.

[Allegra]

Zaraqawi??????

That would be an even bigger catch.....but surely the two wouldn't be confused......

I cannot tell you how we all yearn to hear the news of that as soon as possible.

The things that monster has caused here....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

AT the tailend of the thread we are debating whether he has really been captured.....

From the AFP>.............

__________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday September 5, 8:30 PM

Top Saddam regime fugitive Ibrahim arrested

ADVERTISEMENT

AFP Photo

Saddam Hussein's former deputy Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, who was the most wanted official from the former regime, has been arrested on the outskirts of Tikrit, an Iraqi defence ministry official said.

"Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri was arrested on the outskirts of Tikrit," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The capture was announced after police in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, north of Baghdad, said Saturday that US forces had new leads in their hunt for the former vice-president.

A police officer had told AFP the search had focused on neighbourhoods east of Tikrit following information Ibrahim recently had a blood transfusion in a local clinic.

Ibrahim is ranked number six in the deck of cards of most wanted officials issued after last year's US-led invasion of Iraq.

The US military placed a bounty of 10 million dollars on his head last year, accusing him of financing insurgent groups.

____________________________________________________________________________

This would imply we were waiting for him........

[TexKat]

Iraq government says captures Saddam aide

Sun 5 September, 2004 16:08

By Waleed Ibrahim and Tom Perry

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi and U.S. forces have arrested a man believed to be the most-wanted Saddam Hussein aide still on the run in a bloody raid in which 70 of his supporters were killed and 80 captured, the Iraqi government says.

But the U.S. military cast doubt on Sunday's report, saying Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri -- who was sixth on the U.S. list of the 55 most-wanted members of Saddam's regime and had a $10 million (5.6 million pound) price on his head -- was not in its custody.

"Multi-National Force Iraq confirms that we do not have Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri in custody," a military statement said.

The U.S. military said it had no information on whether Ibrahim was in Iraqi custody.

The Iraqi defence ministry had said Ibrahim was captured in Tikrit, Saddam's hometown and powerbase north of Baghdad.

Iraqi Minister of State Wael Abdul al-Latif told Reuters it was "75 to 90 percent certain" the captured man was Ibrahim. He said 70 of the man's supporters were killed and 80 captured when they tried to prevent him being seized.

Latif said Arabs from outside Iraq were among the people protecting the captured man, who was suffering from leukaemia.

"He's in a very deteriorated state of health," he said.

The U.S. military has said Ibrahim was directly involved in organising and funding attacks on U.S. forces since the downfall of Saddam. In a deck of cards issued to US troops to help them identify fugitives, Ibrahim was the King of Clubs.

The news spread fast in Baghdad, and in some Shi'ite districts residents fired AK-47s in the air in celebration.

"He is the symbol of the former regime," said retired civil servant Abbas al-Kabbi, 50.

"It is the end of a bloody criminal regime."

Ibrahim was Saddam's number two in the Revolutionary Command Council and held a senior post on a government committee in charge of northern Iraq when chemical weapons were used against the town of Halabja in 1988, killing thousands of Kurds.

The red-haired Ibrahim was born in 1942 near Tikrit, 160 km (100 miles) north of Baghdad, the son of an ice seller.

Ibrahim was one of Saddam's top aides and most trusted confidants. His daughter was briefly married to Saddam's elder son Uday, bonding him within the ruling elite.

The top five on the U.S. most-wanted list, including Saddam, his sons Uday and Qusay, and "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid, have already been captured or killed. The seventh most-wanted man, Special Security Organisation Director Hani Abd Latif Tilfah al-Tikriti, is still at large.

WELCOME BOOST FOR GOVERNMENT

If confirmed, the news will be a welcome boost for Iraq's interim government as it tries to crush a deadly insurgency and grapples with a hostage crisis.

France's government said on Sunday it remained hopeful that two French hostages would be freed, although its foreign minister returned empty-handed from a Middle East mission intended to secure their release.

"We have serious reasons to believe both of them are in good health and that a favourable outcome is possible," Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told reporters after discussing the hostage crisis with President Jacques Chirac.

"Our top priority today remains to secure their release. Our priority is their safety," he said. "We are working hard, calmly, cautiously and discreetly."

Journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were seized on August 20 by militants from the Islamic Army in Iraq, who demanded Paris rescind a law banning Muslim headscarves in state schools. France refused the demands and the law went into force on Thursday.

France was shocked to be caught up in the hostage crisis as it opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and has no troops there.

An influential hardline Sunni cleric on Sunday added his voice to calls by Muslim groups to release the men.

"We've issued a fatwa saying that these two French hostages must be released quickly," Sheikh Mehdi al-Sumaidaie said.

Militant groups waging a bloody insurgency against the U.S.-backed interim Iraqi government have turned to kidnapping foreigners as part of a campaign to force firms and foreign troops to leave Iraq. About two dozen foreign hostages have been killed, some of them beheaded.

Police said on Sunday the body of an Egyptian who was kidnapped last month had been found in northern Iraq.

The body of the Egyptian, who was snatched on August 27, was found on Saturday at a roadside near the town of Baiji, 180 km (112 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. They said the body bore signs of torture, with hands and legs bound together.

Al Jazeera reported that four new Jordanian hostages had also been seized. A group called the "Falluja Mujahideen" sent a video tape to the Arabic-language channel saying the four men were drivers transporting materials to U.S. forces.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

THAT FACT says we caught someone very important to the mercenaries....... Douri and Zaraqawi certainly are two names that would come to mind....

[Grampa Dave]

"Iraqi Minister of State Wael Abdul al-Latif told Reuters it was "75 to 90 percent certain" the captured man was Ibrahim. He said 70 of the man's supporters were killed and 80 captured when they tried to prevent him being seized."

Whoever, the captured one is, was a very important person. the $oddomite was by himself and most of the other high ranking thugs when captured.

This person was probably a link pin between Iran/Syria re their money and terrorist in Iraq.