How coalition forces finally got their man

YESTERDAY’S verdict comes almost three years after former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured by coalition troops.

He had spent about nine months on the run, disappearing underground after surviving the fall of Baghdad and several strikes against him. He spent the better part of a year moving between hideouts in his homeland, with only his closest and most faithful henchmen for company.

But the net gradually closed in. Under cover of darkness, on December 13, 2003, US forces stormed his hiding place. Around 600 troops were involved in the American-led Operation Red Dawn raid on the town of Ad Dawr near Tikrit and not a shot was fired.

Looking dishevelled, Saddam offered no resistance as he was captured and taken to a secure area.

Troops then searched the hole, discovering two AK47 machine guns, a pistol and $750,000 (€590,000) in 100 dollar denominations.

Afterwards Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, told a news conference to cheers: “Ladies and gentlemen — we got him.”