Posted on 04/23/2008 5:27:31 PM PDT by blam
Saddam Hussein's ally Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri 'captured' in Iraq
By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:57am BST 24/04/2008
American forces have captured Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party heir, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most wanted former regime official still at large, it has been reported.
A Middle Eastern television channel said Douri, a key force in the country's devastating insurgency, had been seized in a mountain raid in Saddam's home province of Salahaddin.
Most wanted: Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
Douri was King of Clubs in the deck of cards of most wanted Iraqis issued to American soldiers after the war.
But he was almost unique in evading capture within the top rungs of the regime deposed by the US-led coalition in 2003.
A US spokesman said the Baghdad command was unable to confirm his capture, but the television reports said he had been handed to US forces and DNA tests would be carried out to confirm his identity.
Abu Mohammed, described as Douri's representative in Syria, claimed the reports were fabricated, saying Douri was free and "leading the resistance and jihad in Iraq".
Western intelligence credited Douri, whose name derives from the neighbouring village to Saddam's native town, with a continuing important role in the insurgency.
A wizened bureaucrat with red hair, the former vice-chairman of Saddam's Revolutionary Command Council was not cut out for the underground but he survived for five years on guile and a broad range of connections.
Mowafaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's National Security adviser, told a Saudi newspaper that Syria was sheltering Douri and accused the 65-year-old of playing a key role connecting former regime officials with al-Qa'eda followers.
As the last recognised leader of the Iraqi Ba'ath Party, he found post-war support in Syria and used his position in Damascus to frustrate attempts by moderates to start negotiations with democratic regimes.
Known since childhood as the Ice Man, his state of health was rumoured to be fragile and several reports had said he died of leukaemia.
But he enjoyed strong tribal support among Sunni Muslim sympathisers as well as Al-Qa'eda sympathisers.
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An Iraqi court announced that Tariq Aziz, the urbane Christian Iraqi who was the dictatorship's voice to the world, would face trial for the persecution of Baghdad merchants in the 1990s.
The announcement of charges for Aziz and six other top officials, including Saddam's half brother, Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan, dashed hopes in the Vatican that the long-serving foreign minister would be freed on grounds of ill-health.
The trial centres on the execution of 42 merchants rounded up after the first Gulf War and accused of profiteering from Iraq's isolation.
“Many times in the last 5 years Iraqi spokespeiple have claimed captures and kills that turned out not to be true.”
Yes, and whatever happened to last months FR thread that Sadr was dying of poisoning in Iraq? Then he appears to be running combat in Basra?
I think they want euro’s! LOL
I get the strangest feeling somebody has him in Syria.
Rumors...one that he had been poisoned and rushed to treatment in Iean, and supposedly seen later with large weifght loss...story supported by threats of retaliation in Iranian press. Never heard he was in Baghdad...*Did* read one that he had been kicked out of Iran and had returned to Najaf, Iraq...but even if that were true, unlikely that it now seems, there are more reliable reports that he is back in Qom, Iran, if he ever left. (possibly in an attempt to see Sistani for support. Rumors rumors... >Bo)
Yes it is! Thanks much for the ping!
This man is directly responsible for the deaths of multitudes and deserves a quick trial and speedy execution.
The announcement of charges for Aziz and six other top officials, including Saddam's half brother, Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan, dashed hopes in the Vatican that the long-serving foreign minister would be freed on grounds of ill-health.BTW, I think his health is going to decline a bit more.
Whoops, and thanks Ernest.
Let us pray that he was captured. There is yet no reliable confirmation. Let’s hope the best!!!
FINALLY!!!
You NEED to be aware of this story.
<<< PING PING PING >>>
I sure hope this card has been eliminated, but so far nothing has been put on longwarjournal other than this article:
From AFP:
US military says not holding Saddam’s deputy
13 hours ago
BAGHDAD (AFP) — The US military on Wednesday denied reports it is holding Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, the number two under Saddam Hussein.
“We are aware of media reports that Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri has been captured,” the military told AFP in an email.
“At this point, we can say that he is not in coalition custody and we have no reports that he was captured by Iraqi security forces either.”
Al-Arabiya television channel reported that a man suspected to be Duri, who tops the Iraqi government’s list of most-wanted fugitives, has been captured in Iraq.
The man suspected to be Duri was captured by Iraqi forces and handed over to the US military, it said citing Iraqi security sources.
Al-Arabiya said the man was caught in Hamrin between the provinces of Salaheddin and Kirkuk and was being moved to Baghdad.
DNA tests are being conducted to confirm his identity, the Dubai-based Saudi-owned channel added.
The ONLY thing I heard on this was just this report....UNTIL you get a US CONFIRMATION they have him....its a wait and see.
I can hear The Devil's torment cadre sharpening up their pitchforks for an everlasting party!
Please pardon me for sounding like a homo but I cant even describe the love Im feeling for our “American Forces”.
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