U.S. Seizes a Suspected Leader of Hussein’s Militia, 3 Others

TIKRIT, Iraq — U.S. forces captured a suspected leader of Saddam Hussein’s loyalist militia and three other suspects during predawn raids early today, the military said.

The suspected leader allegedly organized cells and paid and armed guerrilla fighters for attacks on U.S. forces in the deposed Iraqi leader’s hometown of Tikrit, said Lt. Col. Steve Russell, commander of the 22nd Infantry Regiment’s 1st Battalion, which carried out the raids.

Among those captured were two former Iraqi generals suspected of organizing guerrilla attacks nationwide. Russell declined to name any of the suspects.

The raids today resulted from tips from residents who told soldiers that the suspects had held a meeting, and who then helped pinpoint their locations, Russell said.

As Apache attack helicopters circled above, about 100 soldiers backed by four battle tanks and eight Bradley fighting vehicles surrounded a hotel. The raid was witnessed by Associated Press. The troops brought 39 men out from the building and neighboring tenements.

Most of the men were released after being questioned.

“If you fight against your government, we will hunt you down and kill you,” Russell told the freed men through an interpreter.