US forces in Iraq have taken into custody another of the Pentagon's top-55 most-wanted officials from toppled President Saddam Hussein's government, US defense officials said last night.
Muhsin Khadr al-Khafaji, identified as the former Baath Party chairman and commander of the Baath militia in the Qadasiyah governorate, was designated as number 48th on the US list and was the "three of diamonds" in the deck of playing cards given to troops who searched for Iraqi fugitives.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered no details on the circumstances surrounding al-Khafaji's apprehension, including the location or whether he surrendered or was caught in a raid.
Saddam's former lieutenant, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, is the highest-ranking official on the list who remains at large, coming in at number 6th.