Free Republic

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed, number 27 on Washington's wanted list of former top officials under Saddam Hussein, has surrendered to U.S. forces, a mediator said on Friday. Dawood Bagistani, a local human rights official who has acted as go-between in talks with Ahmed, told Reuters the surrender would be officially announced later at a news conference in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iraq's former defense minister, who surrendered to U.S. forces last week, was given "effective" immunity from prosecution, and the United States hopes he will provide significant information on Saddam Hussein's weapons activities, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters other "lower level guys who were technical functionaries in Iraq's weapons programs" were also given immunity and have been assisting former U.N. inspector David Kay in his eagerly awaited inquiry on Iraqi arms. Former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed, seen at Saddam Hussein's side in what is thought...