American troops in Iraq have captured one of the remaining "most-wanted" members of Saddam Hussein's regime, US officials said.
According to The AP, Muhsin Khadr al-Khafaji, No. 48 on the 55 most-wanted list, was turned over last weekend to US troops in the Baghdad area, the officials disclosed.
US Central Command described Khadr as the chairman of Saddam's Baath Party in the Qadisiyah Governorate, a region in south-central Iraq. In December, military officials said he had a $1.3 million bounty on his head.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General Annan told reporters Monday he was satisfied with the reception his political team has received in Baghdad. "So far, so good. The atmosphere has been good. They have been well received and there's been very good and frank discussions," he said.
Annan's spokesman said the secretary-general is in regular contact with his special political adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, who is leading the Baghdad team.
He added Brahimi had already met heads of most of the major political groups in Iraq, and would shortly have talks with the leader of the majority Shiite community, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
Brahimi's team is charged with mediating a dispute over the feasibility of direct elections before June 2004.
The secretary-general said the tight deadlines mean the team will have to work quickly. "And so, I think they will be there for about a week or so. I would love to be able to give my decisions to the Governing Council before the end of the month," he said.
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
