BAGHDAD, 20 September 2003 — Saddam Hussein’s last defense minister surrendered to an American commander yesterday, 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.
Later yesterday, a big explosion, apparently a roadside bomb that detonated prematurely, blew up in a pile of garbage in central Baghdad. There were no casualties reported. Piles of shrapnel lay about the scene and a taxi was badly damaged.
There was a large crater from the explosion, which was near the People’s Stadium about a mile northeast of the Palestine Hotel, where much of the huge contingent of international reporters works and lives.
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 8 p.m. Thursday until daybreak yesterday, the military said.
US forces captured 58 Iraqis, including those suspected of being involved in the attack on the patrol, said Col. James Hickey, commander of the 1st Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division. The violence came as US troops claimed a victory in their effort to track down remnants of Saddam’s regime. Former Gen. Sultan Hashim Ahmad, Iraq’s last defense minister, surrendered after weeks of negotiations.
Dawood Bagistani, who arranged the surrender to Maj. Gen. David Petraeus, said Ahmad was handed over “with great respect” and was with his family at the time.
Bagistani said the American 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.
