The Black Vault - U.S. Raid Snares Another Most-Wanted Iraqi

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American forces seized another member of Saddam Hussein's toppled Iraqi government in a raid southeast of Tikrit, the U.S. military said on Friday.

The U.S. Central Command said in a release from Baghdad that Adil Abdallah Mahdi al-Duri al-Tikriti was taken into custody on Thursday in the operation in Ad Dawr, near Saddam's hometown of Tikrit. Defense officials at the Pentagon said a few generals from Saddam's military were also caught.

Mahdi is on the U.S. list of the top 55 wanted members of Saddam's government. He is designated as the "two of diamonds" in the deck of playing cards given to U.S. troops to make them familiar with Iraqi fugitives.

The Central Command statement said Mahdi was a Baath Party regional chairman for the Dhi Qar governorate.

His apprehension brings to 22 the number of the 55 wanted fugitives in U.S. custody.

The Central Command said 262 Iraqis were taken into custody in the Ad Dawr raid by troops of the 4th Infantry Division. Defense officials in Washington said all but several dozen of those had been released after the sweep, which followed a tip from informants.

The defense officials did not identify the generals arrested.

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