U.S. Forces Nab Saddam's Half-Brother

[thedrifter]

Apr 17, 7:49 AM EDT

U.S. Forces Nab Saddam's Half-Brother

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer





CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (AP) -- U.S. Special Forces on Thursday captured Barzan Ibrahim Hasan, a half-brother of Saddam Hussein and a major catch in the effort to roundup members of the former regime, the U.S. Central Command reported.

Hasan was a presidential adviser to Saddam and had "extensive knowledge of the regime's workings," said Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks at the daily Central Command briefing.

Hasan is one of three half-brothers of Saddam and the second to be captured.

On Sunday, coalition forces announced the capture of Watban Ibrahim Hasan, who once served as Iraq's interior minister. Watban Hasan was the five of spades in the deck of playing cards the U.S. military issued to troops with pictures of wanted Iraqi officials. Barzan was the five of clubs.

Barzan Hasan was captured alone in Baghdad, and information from residents of the capital led to his arrest, Brooks said.

"We are currently asking a number of questions... finding out whatever we can from this capture," Brooks said.

Barzan Hasan, like his brother Watban, was seen as a significant catch because of the likelihood he could provide information on Saddam's suspected weapons of mass destruction program, one of the major reasons the United States and Great Britain launched the war.

So far coalition forces have not found any certain evidence that those weapons still exist in Iraq.

The third half-brother, Sab'awi Ibrahim Hassan, has taken refuge in Damascus, Syria, according to a London newspaper report. He is the six of diamonds in the 55-card deck carried by U.S. troops.

The United States has issued stern warnings to Syria not to harbor fugitives from the Saddam regime. Damascus denies any top officials of the former government have been offered sanctuary.

Also Thursday, the newly arrived 4th Infantry Division fought a brief battle near the Taji Airfield north of Baghdad.

Brooks said the U.S. troops "killed and wounded a portion of the enemy force, destroyed some T-72 tanks and captured over 100 enemy fighters."



Sempers,

Roger