Date:20/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/20/stories/2003062004121400.htm

International

No. 3 leader in Saddam regime captured

AFP

RIGHT HAND MAN: Gen. Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti (in uniform) with the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, in this April 28, 2002 file photo.

WASHINGTON JUNE 19. The United States forces have captured Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti, top aide and secretary of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein. American officials believe the detained man knows the fate of his leader and has information about banned weapons.

Mr. Mahmud was ranked third in authority, the U.S. officials said, with more power than Udai, Mr. Hussein's erratic elder son. He has detailed knowledge of Mr. Hussein's personal security arrangements and Iraq's alleged chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programmes, the officials said.

Mr. Mahmud was No. 4 on the U.S. most-wanted list of Iraqi leaders, behind only Mr. Hussein and sons Qusai and Udai.

The forces captured Mr. Mahmud on Monday in Iraq, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command, the military organisation running operations there. It provided no details on the operation that led to his capture, nor did it say precisely where he was taken.

Some officials wondered why he was not found with Mr. Hussein. While there has been no conclusive evidence that Mr. Hussein and his sons survived the war, a defence official said analysts increasingly believe they are alive. As Mr. Hussein's presidential secretary, Mr. Mahmud controlled access to the President and was one of the few people he is said to have trusted completely. Reports indicate that Mr. Mahmud determined which diplomats, media and even doctors could see Mr. Hussein. Only the two sons could see the President without going through him.

A distant cousin of Mr. Hussein, Mr. Mahmud (46), was the ace of diamonds on the U.S. deck of cards portraying leaders of the Ba'athist Government. The Central Command described him as Mr. Hussein's national security adviser and senior bodyguard.

Mr. Mahmud started his career as a non-commissioned officer in Mr. Hussein's personal guard and was eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. In the 1990s, he was put in charge of several security portfolios, including responsibility over places Iraq has been accused of hiding weapons programmes.