US-led special forces capture ‘sadistic’ half-brother of Saddam

SADDAM Hussein’s half-brother has been captured by US-led special forces in Baghdad, US Central Command said yesterday.

US Army Brig-Gen Vincent Brooks said Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, the former head of Iraqi intelligence, was captured alone following a tip-off by Iraqis. The announcement was welcomed by human rights groups, who accuse him of human rights abuses on a massive scale.

Although Barzan al-Tikriti is fairly low down on the coalition’s most wanted list, his capture will be of huge significance for both the US and human rights organisations.