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Iraqi troops close in on Saddam ally Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri Iraqi troops close in on Saddam ally Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
(25 days later)
Iraqi special forces are closing in on the most senior member of Saddam Hussein's inner circle still on the run, security sources have said.Iraqi special forces are closing in on the most senior member of Saddam Hussein's inner circle still on the run, security sources have said.
Troops backed by helicopters are searching for Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, head of Saddam's now outlawed Ba'ath party, in villages around the former ruler's home town of Tikrit.Troops backed by helicopters are searching for Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, head of Saddam's now outlawed Ba'ath party, in villages around the former ruler's home town of Tikrit.
Capturing the most prominent Ba'ath leader would be a boost for the Shia prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, before provincial elections that will measure his political muscle for the 2014 parliamentary ballot.Capturing the most prominent Ba'ath leader would be a boost for the Shia prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, before provincial elections that will measure his political muscle for the 2014 parliamentary ballot.
"We have solid information that he is in Dour since last night. Now we have closed the area, announced a curfew and are searching house by house," said a senior security officer involved in the operation."We have solid information that he is in Dour since last night. Now we have closed the area, announced a curfew and are searching house by house," said a senior security officer involved in the operation.
Douri was long believed to be living outside Iraq, and he was last seen in January in a video message encouraging Sunni Muslim protesters to resist Maliki's government.Douri was long believed to be living outside Iraq, and he was last seen in January in a video message encouraging Sunni Muslim protesters to resist Maliki's government.
Maliki is facing huge Sunni rallies in western Iraq protesting against what they see as the marginalisation of their minority sect since 2003. Many Sunnis feel they have been unfairly targeted for arrest by security forces.Maliki is facing huge Sunni rallies in western Iraq protesting against what they see as the marginalisation of their minority sect since 2003. Many Sunnis feel they have been unfairly targeted for arrest by security forces.
The Shia leader has offered some concessions to protesters, especially in the so-called de-Ba'athification law – meant to keep former Ba'ath party members out of government posts – and Iraq's tough anti-terrorism laws.The Shia leader has offered some concessions to protesters, especially in the so-called de-Ba'athification law – meant to keep former Ba'ath party members out of government posts – and Iraq's tough anti-terrorism laws.
Maliki is also under pressure from other Shia parties in his coalition, who are trying to use his concessions to Sunnis for political gain in the local elections on Saturday.Maliki is also under pressure from other Shia parties in his coalition, who are trying to use his concessions to Sunnis for political gain in the local elections on Saturday.
Douri was vice-chairman of Saddam's ruling Revolutionary Command Council until the invasion. He also headed the Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order, or the Naqshbandi Army, formed after 2007 to fight US troops.Douri was vice-chairman of Saddam's ruling Revolutionary Command Council until the invasion. He also headed the Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order, or the Naqshbandi Army, formed after 2007 to fight US troops.
Sunni Islamist insurgents and al-Qaida still carry out co-ordinated attacks like the string of bombings on Monday that killed 30 people in Baghdad and other cities.Sunni Islamist insurgents and al-Qaida still carry out co-ordinated attacks like the string of bombings on Monday that killed 30 people in Baghdad and other cities.
Security officers involved in the Douri operation said they believed he moved between Tikrit and the towns of Dour and Hawija. One security source said Douri visited Sunni demonstrators in Tikrit before he went to Dour, where he has many supporters and owns a villa.Security officers involved in the Douri operation said they believed he moved between Tikrit and the towns of Dour and Hawija. One security source said Douri visited Sunni demonstrators in Tikrit before he went to Dour, where he has many supporters and owns a villa.
Dhiyaa Ibrahim, one of Douri's neighbours, said: "The special forces early this morning raided the villa of his excellency. They searched it, but found nothing."Dhiyaa Ibrahim, one of Douri's neighbours, said: "The special forces early this morning raided the villa of his excellency. They searched it, but found nothing."
Ibrahim said the troops searched other houses and nearby villages and arrested four people.Ibrahim said the troops searched other houses and nearby villages and arrested four people.
In January's video, Douri, surrounded by men in uniform, urged Sunni nationalists to resist the Shia government, which has edged closer to Iraq's non-Arab Shia neighbour Tehran since the fall of the Sunni Saddam.In January's video, Douri, surrounded by men in uniform, urged Sunni nationalists to resist the Shia government, which has edged closer to Iraq's non-Arab Shia neighbour Tehran since the fall of the Sunni Saddam.
Since the last US troops left, Baghdad's national government has been deadlocked by tensions among Shia, Sunni and ethnic Kurdish parties who split government posts among them in an unwieldy power-sharing arrangement.Since the last US troops left, Baghdad's national government has been deadlocked by tensions among Shia, Sunni and ethnic Kurdish parties who split government posts among them in an unwieldy power-sharing arrangement.
After the invasion, Douri was ranked sixth on the US military's list of 55 most wanted Iraqis, and a $10m reward was offered for his capture. US officials said he had organised a Sunni insurgency against American troops.After the invasion, Douri was ranked sixth on the US military's list of 55 most wanted Iraqis, and a $10m reward was offered for his capture. US officials said he had organised a Sunni insurgency against American troops.
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