US seizes another most-wanted Iraqi official

WASHINGTON - American forces have taken custody of another person on their list of top-55 most-wanted Iraqis, apprehending Baath Party regional command member Fadil Mahmud Gharib, a defence official said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Gharib was taken into custody in the past 24 hours.

US Central Command identified Gharib as a member of toppled President Saddam Hussein's Baath Party regional command and chairman for the Babil district, adding that he also was known as Gharib Muhammad Fazel al-Mashaikh.

He was ranked 28 on the list of 55. This brings to 21 the number of people on the list who are in US custody, with another three dead.

The defence officials did not provide details about how or where they apprehended Gharib, who was designated as the three of hearts in a deck of cards given by the US military to troops to aid their search for Iraqi fugitives.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq