KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. forces have detained a brother-in-law of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in the Iraqi town of Tikrit, a U.S. military spokesman said.
Tikrit is the hometown of Saddam, who was toppled on April 9 in a U.S.-led invasion, and was a powerbase for his iron-clad rule.
Major Josslyn Aberle, spokeswoman for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, said Mulhana Hamood Abdul Jabar was detained in the early hours of Sunday.
Earlier, the commander of the division, Major General Raymond Odierno, said the man was Saddam's son-in-law but he did not name him. He said the detainee was not on a list of 55 most wanted Iraqi officials.
"(Abdul) Jabar was transferred to the holding facility at Baghdad international airport...for questioning," Aberle told reporters in the northern town of Kirkuk.
She said a helicopter on patrol spotted a car speeding to a hospital in central Tikrit at 3 a.m. on Sunday and sent a patrol to investigate.
Two men in the car with Abdul Jabar had gunshot wounds in the chest and leg. A doctor at the hospital identified Jabar and told U.S. soldiers.
"After investigation, U.S. forces discovered it was true," Odierno told reporters.
The brother-in-law was in possession of $300,000, eight million dinars ($6,000), three AK-47 assault rifles, and a rocket-propelled grenade, he said.
"It is clear to me this is significant. He was a very important figure in the local Tikrit area," Odierno said.
Tikrit is the hometown of Saddam, who was toppled on April 9 in a U.S.-led invasion, and was a powerbase for his iron-clad rule.
Major Josslyn Aberle, spokeswoman for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, said Mulhana Hamood Abdul Jabar was detained in the early hours of Sunday.
Earlier, the commander of the division, Major General Raymond Odierno, said the man was Saddam's son-in-law but he did not name him. He said the detainee was not on a list of 55 most wanted Iraqi officials.
"(Abdul) Jabar was transferred to the holding facility at Baghdad international airport...for questioning," Aberle told reporters in the northern town of Kirkuk.
She said a helicopter on patrol spotted a car speeding to a hospital in central Tikrit at 3 a.m. on Sunday and sent a patrol to investigate.
Two men in the car with Abdul Jabar had gunshot wounds in the chest and leg. A doctor at the hospital identified Jabar and told U.S. soldiers.
"After investigation, U.S. forces discovered it was true," Odierno told reporters.
The brother-in-law was in possession of $300,000, eight million dinars ($6,000), three AK-47 assault rifles, and a rocket-propelled grenade, he said.
"It is clear to me this is significant. He was a very important figure in the local Tikrit area," Odierno said.
