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25/04/2003
Iraqi deputy PM Tariq Aziz in US hands
The former Iraqi deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, the highest-profile member of Saddam Hussein's regime, was today in the custody of US forces.
Aziz was number 43 in the list of most wanted officials of the toppled regime, and as a member of the Revolutionary Command Council, he was wanted by the US for war crimes against Kuwait, Iran and his own people.
It was not clear where in Iraq he was, and whether he was captured or gave himself up, but a spokesman at Central Command in Qatar said: “We can confirm that Tariq Aziz is in coalition custody.”
Aziz, the top Christian in Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council, played a pivotal role in thwarting efforts by United Nations weapons inspectors in the mid-1990s.
A fluent speaker of English, he was the main envoy to the West under Saddam’s regime and lived in a villa on the Tigris River in Baghdad.
Born in Mosul in 1936, the former teacher and journalist joined the Ba’ath Party in 1957, working closely with Saddam to overthrow the British-imposed monarchy.
But like most non-Tikritis, he was believed to wield little power in Saddam’s regime, despite his high profile.
It has been reported that when US President George W Bush responded to shouted questions about Aziz’s fate, he gave a smile and a thumbs up.
Yesterday, US forces arrested Muzahim Sa'b Hassan al-Tikriti, the commander of the Iraqi Air Defence Force, who was number 10 on the wanted list. Former Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih was also captured yesterday, while General Zuhayr Talib abd al-Sattar al-Naqib, the former head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, surrendered to American troops. Jamal Mustafa Sultan al-Tikriti, a son-in-law of President Hussein, surrendered on Sunday, while Salim Said Khalaf al-Jumayli, an Iraqi intelligence officer who was not on the wanted list, was also captured. Meanwhile, US Senator Bob Graham said last night that Syria had arrested an unnamed Iraqi official. Mr Graham said the detainee held one of the most sensitive positions in the Iraqi Government and his arrest would be officially announced later.
(AMcE)
Aziz was number 43 in the list of most wanted officials of the toppled regime, and as a member of the Revolutionary Command Council, he was wanted by the US for war crimes against Kuwait, Iran and his own people.
It was not clear where in Iraq he was, and whether he was captured or gave himself up, but a spokesman at Central Command in Qatar said: “We can confirm that Tariq Aziz is in coalition custody.”
Aziz, the top Christian in Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council, played a pivotal role in thwarting efforts by United Nations weapons inspectors in the mid-1990s.
A fluent speaker of English, he was the main envoy to the West under Saddam’s regime and lived in a villa on the Tigris River in Baghdad.
Born in Mosul in 1936, the former teacher and journalist joined the Ba’ath Party in 1957, working closely with Saddam to overthrow the British-imposed monarchy.
But like most non-Tikritis, he was believed to wield little power in Saddam’s regime, despite his high profile.
It has been reported that when US President George W Bush responded to shouted questions about Aziz’s fate, he gave a smile and a thumbs up.
Yesterday, US forces arrested Muzahim Sa'b Hassan al-Tikriti, the commander of the Iraqi Air Defence Force, who was number 10 on the wanted list. Former Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih was also captured yesterday, while General Zuhayr Talib abd al-Sattar al-Naqib, the former head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, surrendered to American troops. Jamal Mustafa Sultan al-Tikriti, a son-in-law of President Hussein, surrendered on Sunday, while Salim Said Khalaf al-Jumayli, an Iraqi intelligence officer who was not on the wanted list, was also captured. Meanwhile, US Senator Bob Graham said last night that Syria had arrested an unnamed Iraqi official. Mr Graham said the detainee held one of the most sensitive positions in the Iraqi Government and his arrest would be officially announced later.
(AMcE)
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