Paras capture No. 54 in Iraqi 'most wanted' list

American paratroopers have captured a former Baath Party official who was number 54 on the list of 55 most wanted figures from Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad, a former regional Baath Party chairman and militia commander, was arrested on Sunday in the Ramadi area west of Baghdad, said Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt.

“With the capture of number 54, we have taken another significant step in reducing anti-coalition resistance,” Kimmitt said.

“He was an enabler for many of the resistance attacks on Iraqis as well as the US and coalition forces.”

Kimmitt refused to discuss further details of the arrest.