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For months, America has deployed the full array of its formidable intelligence network to find Saddam Hussein and his sons. But yesterday's breakthrough came after a simple tip-off from the owner of the house where Saddam's sons were sheltering. At the start of the war, the US tried to "decapitate" the regime by bombing a building in Baghdad where Saddam was believed to be meeting senior lieutenants, but either missed him or the information was faulty. As the military occupation of Iraq has become more established, though, the allies' intelligence has steadily improved. One by one, US forces have rounded...

Calls Uday, Qusay 'Do-nothings' Abid Hamid Mahmoud al-Tikriti, the just-captured "ace of diamonds" from the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, last night blasted his number-four status, arguing that he should rank higher than both Uday and Qusay Hussein in the infamous deck of cards. "When the Americans told me I was number four, I practically fell out of my chair," Mr. Mahmoud told CNN's Larry King during an hour-long interview. "What were they smoking when they put together these rankings?" Mr. Mahmoud attempted to portray himself as a victim of nepotism, claiming that the Hussein sons' role in Saddam's...

<p>IN CUSTODY: Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti, left, seen with Saddam Hussein on his 65th birthday, was harbored by an Iraqi family that, according to Arab custom, refused to betray a house guest and turn him over to U.S. forces.</p> <p>TIKRIT, IRAQ – Saddam Hussein's top aide managed to evade U.S. forces for a time by sleeping on a mat in the home of an Iraqi family who refused to turn him in because of the tradition in Arab and Muslim countries of protecting guests.</p>

...The night before his arrest, Mahmud, who once shuttled among presidential palaces, had slept on the floor in the living room. He was reduced to eating lumpy yogurt to calm his stomach, and complained of asthma, Awad said. "He just gave up when the Americans came," she added. U.S. military officers said that Mahmud, the fourth most sought member of the former government after Hussein and his two sons, appeared stressed and alone, reduced to asking favors of locals, such as a bed for the night. He did not have his own transportation, money or weapons "of any significance," according...

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Captured Iraqi May Know Fate of Saddam By JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - U.S. forces have captured Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s top aide and presidential secretary, a man who American officials believe knows the fate of the deposed Iraqi leader and has information about banned weapons. Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti was No. 4 on the U.S. most-wanted list of Iraqi leaders, behind only Saddam and sons Qusai and Odai. Mahmud has detailed knowledge of Saddam's personal security arrangements and Iraq (news - web sites)'s alleged chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs, U.S. officials said. He...

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces have captured Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s top aide and presidential secretary, a man who American officials believe knows the fate of the deposed Iraqi leader and has information about banned weapons. Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti was No. 4 on the U.S. most-wanted list of Iraqi leaders, behind only Saddam and sons Qusai and Odai. Mahmud has detailed knowledge of Saddam's personal security arrangements and Iraq (news - web sites)'s alleged chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs, U.S. officials said. He was ranked third in authority, they said, with more power than Odai, Saddam's erratic...

American forces have captured Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s presidential secretary and No. 4 on the U.S. most-wanted list of Iraqi leaders, the U.S. military said Wednesday. AP Photo Latest news: · U.S. Captures No. 4 Iraqi Official AP - 12 minutes ago · Blair Insists Saddam Hussein Was a Threat AP - 21 minutes ago · General: Troops Making Progress in Iraq AP - 37 minutes ago Special Coverage U.S. forces captured Mahmud on Monday in Iraq (news - web sites), a statement from U.S. Central Command said. It did not say where in...