US troops capture four implicated in guerrilla attacks

In three pre-dawn raids near former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's hometown, US troops yesterday detained four suspects, two believed linked to the ousted leader's special security operations force, the US military said.

"We are satisfied we found the individuals we wanted to," said Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, commander of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division, which is based here.

The raids involved consecutive storming of three houses in a residential neighborhood about 10km north of Tikrit. Saddam's hometown has become a center for financing and coordinating attacks on American soldiers.

At the last location, the raiders questioned a suspect, a man in his 50s, who said he had worked in Saddam's Special Security Office. In a long white traditional Arabic dress, the man was led away blindfolded, his hands tied behind his back. His 15-year-old son was released.

The older man was "expected to be of great intelligence value," Russell said.

"We cast a wide net, sometimes we get a dolphin, sometimes we get a shark," he said.

A detailed search of the man's house uncovered a leather portfolio of photographs of Saddam at various official occasions. The man said he had left Baghdad shortly before the city's fall in April and had come to his family home near Tikrit.

Earlier the week, an Iraqi informer had pointed out the three homes in walled-in compounds less than 2km apart, as possible locations for explosive-making devices, Russell said.

The raiders were enforced by Bradley fighting vehicles and three Abrams tanks which were at hand in case of possible explosives.

No or bomb-making devices were found in the raids yesterday but the weapons uncovered at the three sites included several Kalashnikov rifles and a shotgun. A plastic bag stuffed with Saddam-era camouflage uniforms was also found at the older man's house.

One the other detained suspects, who said he was a former policeman at an electrical company, initially tried to hide his name.

After rigorous questioning, he later said he lied about it because he was afraid. Another said he was formerly a police guard at a radio station while the forth detained man was allegedly a former police officer.