DNA proof Saddam held
2003-12-14 13:11
Madrid, Doha - DNA tests on Sunday confirmed that a suspect being held in Iraq is Saddam Hussein, Sky News reports.
A spokesperson for the Iraqi National Congress (INC) also confirmed that Saddam had been captured, wearing a fake beard to disguise himself, the Arab satellite channel al-Jazeera reported.
"We are 100% sure that Saddam has been detained by American forces," said Intifadh Qanbar, spokesperson for the INC, headed by Ahmad Chalabi, a member of Iraq's interim Governing Council.
"Saddam Hussein was captured this morning in Tikrit. He had a fake beard that he had taken off," to be identified, he said, adding "he was hiding in a house."
"A DNA analysis will confirm," that it is Saddam Hussein, Qanbar said, describing the former leader's capture as "historical".
"Kurdish special forces of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Qusrat Rassul Ali along with American special forces after receiving information that Saddam was hiding in a house in Tikrit carried out an operation and arrested Saddam Hussein," a senior PUK official told AFP earlier.
US overseer Paul Bremer also confirmed Saddam's capture in Tikrit, Governing Council member Nassir Chaderchi told BBC radio's Arabic service.
"Bremer called us to confirm it (Saddam's capture) and we are all celebrating here," Chaderchi told the radio adding that a news conference would be held shortly to provide more details on Saddam's capture in Tikrit. - AFP / Sky News / BBC