Ex-Iraqi premier 'captured'

The US say Muhammad Hazmaq al-Zubaydi - number 18 on a list of the 55 most wanted figures from Saddam Hussein's regime - has been arrested.

Officials at Central Command in Qatar said Al-Zubaydi, a former member of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council and central Euphrates regional commander, was arrested in Iraq.

Al-Zubaydi played a key role in Iraq's brutal suppression of the Shiite Muslim uprising of 1991.

He was featured in Iraqi news film kicking and beating captured Shiite rebels.

The former prime minister and deputy prime minister was one of the key figures in suppressing the uprising that followed Iraq's defeat in the Gulf War.

Central Command gave no further details on his arrest.

Haider Ahmed, spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress in London, said al-Zubaydi had been caught thanks to a tip off from local people.

He said al-Zubaydi was caught "in co-ordination with Allied troops" by "Free Iraqi Forces" affiliated to the INC.

Mr Ahmed added: "A tip was passed to the Free Iraqi Forces from local people in a village called Emam, near the small city of Mahaweel. Ground forces were deployed to that area and he was caught with his son.

"He was hiding in an abandoned, derelict area, not a built-up are. This is very significant - he is one of the most hated men in the former regime."