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New Agency Says Saddam Detained in Iraq

Dec 13, 2003 6:33PM PST

"Dec 14, 5:18 AM (ET)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been detained in Iraq, Iran's official news agency reported Sunday.

"Saddam Hussein was arrested in his hometown of Tikrit," IRNA quoted top Iraqi leader, Jalal Talabani as saying. It gave no further details.

In Iraq, a separate rumor that Saddam was captured or killed near Tikrit sent hundreds of exultant people into the streets of this northern Iraqi city Sunday. They fired in the air in celebration and congratulated each other.

In Baghdad, a spokeswoman for the U.S.-led occupation notified reporters that a "very important" announcement will be made at a news conference scheduled for 7 a.m. EST, but did not say who would be the speaker. The spokeswoman requested anonymity.

In Tikrit, rumors that the former dictator was in custody were making the rounds, but reporters attached to the 4th Infantry Division, the U.S. unit in charge of security in the area, said there was no unusual activity there overnight or early Sunday.
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New Agency Says Saddam Detained in Iraq

Discussion is locked

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Re:New Agency...what happened to the old one....(nt)
Dec 13, 2003 6:34PM PST

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SE had it shut down for being too Libertarian. ;-)
Dec 13, 2003 6:46PM PST

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Great news Blake - This would really help with the healing process
Dec 13, 2003 6:46PM PST

I really hope to God that this news is true.
Saddam has done nothing but stir up hatred between various groups in the country. Steve

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nt) DITTO Steve.
Dec 13, 2003 6:47PM PST

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Re:This would really help with the healing process
Dec 13, 2003 6:50PM PST

i think the opposite...

all the time he was "MIA", all his groupies were sitting pretty quietly and not making too much trouble, catch and hold him in a military compound somewhere and they'll swarm like flies to *** on a blanket....

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I cannot deny that that is a possibility Jonah but his support is at an all time
Dec 14, 2003 1:53AM PST

low among most of the Iraqi people, and if any groupies do show their faces, then I wouldn't like to be in their shoes.
We will just have to hope for the best, and I wish you and all the Israelis a very happy holiday period.
Being diplomatic there, since they don't have Christmas there for obvious reasons.

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perhaps, and we hope. another link
Dec 13, 2003 6:52PM PST
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First Tests Show Captured Man Is Saddam
Dec 13, 2003 7:35PM PST

"Dec 14, 6:17 AM (ET)
By JOHN SOLOMON

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. military captured a man in the basement of a building in Tikrit, Iraq, during raids seeking Saddam Hussein, and initial efforts to verify his identity indicate he is the deposed Iraqi dictator, U.S. officials said Sunday.

"It certainly looks good," one senior U.S. official said, cautioning more scientific testing, possibly DNA, was being done early Sunday morning to try to confirm the identity.

The official said the captured man's appearance did not immediately look like Saddam, but additional efforts to ascertain his identity indicated he was the former leader.

The officials spoke only on condition of anonymity.

The military raids in and near Tikrit, Saddam's hometown, were based on fresh intelligence and were aimed at capturing Saddam, the officials said, and the man was captured in one of the targeted buildings.

"He was in a cellar of the building. His appearance was such that it made it not immediately certain you could say it was Saddam Hussein," the official said.
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First Tests Show Captured Man Is Saddam

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Saddam Captured Alive, Iraq Official Says
Dec 13, 2003 7:38PM PST

"Dec 14, 6:03 AM (ET)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Saddam Hussein has been captured alive in his hometown of Tikrit, a member of the U.S.-appointed Governing Council said Sunday.

Council member Dara Noor al-Din told The Associated Press that the council was informed of the former dictator's capture in a telephone call from L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator for Iraq.

"Bremer has confirmed to the Governing Council that Saddam was captured in Tikrit," Noor al-Din said. "He spoke on the phone to several members, including Ahmad Chalabi."

In Washington, senior military officials confirmed there was a raid based on intelligence that Saddam was at a certain house and that some people were taken into custody. They were unwilling to be more specific.
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Saddam Captured Alive, Iraq Official Says

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Just saw it confirmed on TV
Dec 13, 2003 8:29PM PST

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this will sound strange, but i kind of felt sorry for him....
Dec 13, 2003 8:45PM PST

being found in a hole in the ground in the cellar, and being medically checked like some specimen is no way to end your days....

#My dream has always been to die a warriors death. My life ending by the swiftness of an arrow or a fatal blow from a war club#
http://www.lakotawritings.com/MyDeath.html

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(NT)I understand what you mean, but the fact was found like that will help to demystify him to Iraqs
Dec 13, 2003 9:41PM PST

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(NT) I wanna die *In the Saddle.* ;-)
Dec 14, 2003 3:06AM PST

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