Saddam's half-brother 'captured'

Saddam's half-brother 'captured'

Saddam Hussein's half-brother said to be captured

Saddam Hussein's half-brother has been captured 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 welcomed by human rights groups, who accuse him of human rights abuses on a massive scale.

"Early this morning, coalition special operations forces, supported by US Marines, captured Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti," said General Brooks at his regular briefing in Qatar.

"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.

CAPTURED IRAQI LEADERS

51. Watban Ibrahim al-Tikriti

52. Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti

55. General Amir al-Saadi

US's 55 most-wanted Iraqis

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 General Brooks.

"He will be questioned over coming days and information may point us in the direction of the inner workings of the regime."

'Justice'

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 Hussein's three brothers to be taken.

Watban Ibrahim al-Tikriti was arrested near the Syrian border at the weekend.

Watban Ibrahim al-Tikriti was arrested at the weekend

The BBC's Malcolm Brabant 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.

American agents questioning him will be trying to tap into his extensive knowledge of the inner workings of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Human rights groups regard him as one of the most enthusiastically sadistic members of Saddam's inner circle.

British-based organisation Indict alleges that, as head of intelligence, he was responsible for a catalogue of mass murder and torture who personally participated in a number of atrocities.

They accuse him of participating in the detention and murder of several thousand men who disappeared from the Barzani tribe in 1983.

In the same year, he allegedly carried out the destruction of two villages and orchestrated the subsequent murder or deportation of the inhabitants.

"If this news is true, we are very happy," said Chief Executive Officer of Indict, Charles Forrest told BBC News Online.

"Not only is he a criminal who should be brought to justice but he will have a great deal of information about the inner workings of a regime which has looted the country."

Mr Forrest backed US plans to set up an Iraqi court under Iraqi law and with Iraqi judges to try those accused of war crimes.

"That's probably the best way of giving the people in Iraq a feeling that justice is being done. It will set a good example for the future of the country."