Close Saddam aide captured

A top official from Saddam Hussein’s former regime, a man said to be a close confidant of the deposed Iraqi leader, has been captured in Baghdad

The US army’s V Corps headquarters said Mizban Khadr Hadi, a member of Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council and a top Baath Party leader, was arrested yesterday.

Hadi is listed as number 41 of the 55 most-wanted figures and is depicted as the nine of hearts in the “deck of cards” issued by the US military to track them.

He was among Saddam’s most trusted aides, who were elevated by the Iraqi leader in March to command the country’s four military regions in an attempt to delegate command and strengthen the defence of the country against the American invasion that came later that month.

Hadi was placed in charge of the area that included the Shiite Muslim holy cities of Karbala and Najaf. Saddam’s regime was made up primarily of Sunni Muslims, although they are a minority in the country.

In May 2001, Hadi was put in charge of the party’s Farmers’ Central Office.

He was reportedly extremely close to Saddam and has been one of his advisers, especially on Shiite affairs, since the early 1980s.

He has been a minister without portfolio since June 1982 and before that was Governor of Najaf.

He was decorated by Saddam for his services during the 1991 Gulf War and the month long Shiite rebellion that followed Iraq’s defeat.