Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's last defense minister surrendered yesterday to an American commander, and US troops backed by helicopters and armored vehicles fought an overnight battle near Tikrit after coming under a coordinated attack that killed three soldiers and wounded two.
Though Americans have been the targets of near-daily attacks, the battle in and around the village of Uja -- Saddam's birthplace -- was unusual because of its intensity and length. The fighting lasted from 8pm Thursday until daybreak yesterday, the military said.
The violence came as US troops claimed a victory in their effort to track down remnants of Saddam's regime. Former General Sultan Hashim Ahmad, Iraq's last defense minister, surrendered after weeks of negotiations.
Dawood Bagistani, who arranged the surrender to Major General David Petraeus, said Ahmad was handed over "with great respect."
His family was allowed to accompany him as he reported to Petraeus, who commands the 101st Airborne Division.
Bagistani said the US military had promised to remove Ahmad's name from the list of 55 most-wanted, meaning he would not face indefinite confinement and possible prosecution.
Ahmad, the eight of hearts in the deck of playing cards of Iraqi fugitives, was no. 27 on the most-wanted list. Thirty-eight of that group are now in custody and 14 remain at large. Three are either dead or thought to be dead.
The special treatment for Ahmad could be an effort to defuse the guerrilla-style attacks that are taking a toll on US soldiers. Many of the attackers are thought to be former soldiers in Saddam's army, and seeing their former military leader treated well might encourage them to abandon their insurgency.
It could also win points for the Americans among local tribes, whose leaders wanted Ahmad to be well-treated.
"We are certain that they will let him go," said Sheik Bader Suheil al-Zaydi, chief of one of the tribes in the Mosul area.
Colonel Joe Anderson, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 101st, promised that Ahmad's surrender "will guarantee that he will be treated with dignity and respect and be allowed the opportunity to explain his former situation."
The attacks in Tikrit were the most intense and coordinated since US forces arrived in the area in April, according to the spokeswoman of the 4th Infantry Division, Major Jocelyn Aberle.
They began as soldiers were sealing off parts of Uja to conduct a raid against Iraqi resistance cells. Gunmen in a white pickup opened fire on an observation post, followed by deadly rocket and small arms fire on a patrol in which the three Americans died.
Insurgents also launched attacks against two bases on using rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The two wounded soldiers were brought to a medical station in a blood-soaked vehicle were listed in stable condition, according to Colonel James Hickey, commander the division's 1st Brigade.
He said 58 Iraqi men of "military age" were captured, including those believed involved in the attack on the patrol. He said the attack showed remarkable coordination.
"It is unusual. We have seen instances of coordinated attacks two times in the past out of the scores of ambushes. But this one was coordinated and this something that worrying us and we are paying attention to it," Hickey said.
He said the military had received some warning that an attack was imminent and had increased it alert level. He said the large number of Iraqis detained was a direct consequence of the warning.
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