Iraq’s ‘Dr Germ’ surrenders to coalition forces

COALITION forces have taken custody of the Iraqi scientist known as ‘Dr Germ’ for her work in creating weapons-grade anthrax, according to Pentagon officials, who said they also had initial field reports that the head of Saddam Hussein’s military has been captured.

The scientist, Dr Rihab Rashid Taha had been negotiating her surrender for days and turned herself in over the last 48 hours, said Major Brad Lowell of the US Central Command.

UN weapons inspectors nicknamed Taha ‘Dr Germ’ because she ran the Iraqi biological weapons facility where scientists worked with anthrax, botulinum toxin and aflatoxin. A microbiologist, Taha holds a doctorate from the University of East Anglia in Britain.