officials struck a major blow earlier this year when they killed Saddam's two sons during a raid. 1 on their list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis, the lead card in a special deck of most-wanted cards.īut U.S. Since then, he has appeared in both video and audio tapes. Saddam proved elusive at least twice during the war, when dramatic military strikes came up empty in their efforts to capture him. troops that have led to scores of deaths since the end of combat operations. Saddam's capture is a defining moment in the Iraq war and subsequent rebuilding process, and Bush administration officials have hoped it would lessen or break the organized resistance against U.S. The deposed Iraqi president is now being held at Baghdad's main airport, formerly known as Saddam International Airport. Two men 'affiliated with Saddam Hussein' were detained with him, and soldiers confiscated two Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, a taxi and $750,000 in $100 bills, Sanchez said. Preliminary DNA testing is also thought to have been conducted. It was not immediately clear how Saddam's identity was confirmed, but the former Iraqi leader is known to have a small tattoo on one hand. Saddam, with a straggly, greying beard, was not putting up resistance.Ī picture which appeared to be taken later showed Saddam clean shaven. Soldiers took what appeared to be DNA swabs from his mouth. The video showed him undergoing a medical check. forces officially informed the world of their success and showed a video of Saddam's capture during a news conference in Baghdad today. allies to confirm the early reports, saying that 'Saddam is gone from power.'

'Now we can start a new beginning.'īush first learned of the capture on Saturday afternoon, and was given confirmation early today by national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.īritish Prime Minister Tony Blair was among the first U.S. Life is going to be safer now,' said 35-year-old Yehya Hassan, a resident of Baghdad.

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