US forces say they are closing in on Saddam

American forces in Iraq continue to close in on Saddam Hussein, conducted several top secret operations since killing his sons Uday and Qusay two weeks ago, the US military said today.

“It is just a matter of time. He cannot stay in one place very long,” 4th Infantry Division spokeswoman Maj Josslyn Aberle said.

The secret Special Operations Task Force 20 – which is hunting Saddam and other high profile targets – captured four key individuals last week, she said.

Military officials had not previously acknowledged Task Force 20’s involvement in the raids.

The army would not release the four men’s names or their connection to Saddam. A pair of Saddam’s “very close associates” were captured on Friday during simultaneous raids in Tikrit, the dictator’s home town.

Two others, described only as high profile targets, were caught on Saturday during a raid in Baiji, just north of Tikrit, she said. Tikrit is 120 miles north of Baghdad.

Soldiers believe they came within 24 hours of capturing Saddam’s new personal security chief – and possibly the dictator himself – during a raid in Tikrit on July 27.

“Based on intelligence that is way above our level, we believe that we have come close on one or two occasions,” Aberle said.

Intelligence on Saddam’s whereabouts is constantly evolving and the army is poised to strike as soon as it has any information upon which it can act, she said.

“It was the same with Uday and Qusay, they had not been up in Mosul – or in that house where they were captured – very long before the intelligence came in and we got them,” she said.

Military officials estimate that Saddam is changing locations every four hours. The army has distributed a series of composite photos of how he may have changed his appearance, hoping that they may catch the dictator on the move.

“Everyday, every night, soldiers and coalition forces are out there, they are actively looking, actively pursuing leads and constantly gathering more intelligence,” Aberle said.