Captured man 'not Saddam's deputy'

Medical tests have shown that a man being held in Iraqi custody is not Saddam Hussein’s deputy, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri.

“The required tests to identify him showed he is not Izzat al-Douri,” said Interior Ministry spokesman Sabah Kadhim.

He said the man being held is related to al-Douri.

Iraqi officials yesterday claimed they had captured al-Douri during a shoot-out north of Baghdad, but later in the day the Iraqi defence minister said word of his arrest was “baseless".

American officials believe that al-Douri – Saddam’s former right-hand man – is playing an organising role in the 16 month insurgency that has plagued US forces.