thedrifter
04-24-03, 04:35 PM
U.S. Forces Said to Take Custody of Aziz
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq (news - web sites) apparently have taken custody of Tariq Aziz, the former Iraqi deputy prime minister, Pentagon (news - web sites) officials said Thursday.
No details on the capture or surrender were immediately available.
Aziz has been one of the best-known members of the Iraqi leadership. On the U.S. list of the 55 most-wanted members of the former government, he was No. 43.
Two Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they believed Aziz was in U.S. custody. Both said they were awaiting confirmation from U.S. Central Command headquarters in Qatar.
Aziz was perhaps the most-recognized public face of the Iraqi government, other than President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). He sometimes presented the Iraqi case against accusations by the United States and United Nations (news - web sites).
Aziz, the eight of spades in the military's card deck of top Iraqi leaders, was the only Christian in Saddam's inner circle. He served as foreign minister during the 1991 Persian Gulf War (news - web sites) and was a frequent spokesman at that time.
Although he was one of Saddam's most loyal aides, Aziz, like most non-Tikritis, had virtually no power, U.S. officials say.
Born in 1936 in the northern city of Mosul, Aziz studied English literature at Baghdad College of Fine Arts and became a teacher and journalist. He joined the Baath Party in 1957, working closely with Saddam to overthrow British-imposed monarchy.
Sempers,
Roger
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030424/i/1051219048.3288367186.jpg
File photo of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz speaking to an Egyptian delegation in Baghdad, February 25, 2003. According to reports April 24, 2003, Aziz is now in the custody of U.S. forces. REUTERS/Samir Mezban/Pool
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030424/capt.1051221583.iraq_captured_leaders_aziz_ny142.j pg
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq (news - web sites) apparently have taken custody of Tariq Aziz, the former Iraqi deputy prime minister, Pentagon (news - web sites) officials said Thursday.
No details on the capture or surrender were immediately available.
Aziz has been one of the best-known members of the Iraqi leadership. On the U.S. list of the 55 most-wanted members of the former government, he was No. 43.
Two Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they believed Aziz was in U.S. custody. Both said they were awaiting confirmation from U.S. Central Command headquarters in Qatar.
Aziz was perhaps the most-recognized public face of the Iraqi government, other than President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). He sometimes presented the Iraqi case against accusations by the United States and United Nations (news - web sites).
Aziz, the eight of spades in the military's card deck of top Iraqi leaders, was the only Christian in Saddam's inner circle. He served as foreign minister during the 1991 Persian Gulf War (news - web sites) and was a frequent spokesman at that time.
Although he was one of Saddam's most loyal aides, Aziz, like most non-Tikritis, had virtually no power, U.S. officials say.
Born in 1936 in the northern city of Mosul, Aziz studied English literature at Baghdad College of Fine Arts and became a teacher and journalist. He joined the Baath Party in 1957, working closely with Saddam to overthrow British-imposed monarchy.
Sempers,
Roger
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030424/i/1051219048.3288367186.jpg
File photo of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz speaking to an Egyptian delegation in Baghdad, February 25, 2003. According to reports April 24, 2003, Aziz is now in the custody of U.S. forces. REUTERS/Samir Mezban/Pool
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030424/capt.1051221583.iraq_captured_leaders_aziz_ny142.j pg