How Was Saddam Hussein Arrested?

Saddam Hussein was arrested on December 13 2003, at approximately 8.30pm Iraqi time. Reports of his capture were confirmed by other members of the Iraq Interim Governing Council, bu U.S. military sources and British prime minister, Tony Blair.

Saddam was captured in an underground spider hole at a farmhouse in ad-Dawr near his home town Tikrit, in what was called Operation Red Dawn.

U.S. Civil administrator, Paul Bremer, presented video footage of Saddam in custody. He sported a long beard and long hair, which was quite unlike his familiar appearance, which a barber later restored. His identity was confirmed by DNA testing and his health was described as being in good condition. He was also described as being 'talkative and co-operative'.

After his capture, according to US military sources, Saddam was hooded and his hands were bound. He was taken by a military vehicle to a helicopter and then flown back to the US base located in and adjacent to one of his former palaces in Tikrit. After being photographed at this place, he was then loaded onto another helicopter and flown to the main US base at Baghdad International Airport and transferred to the Camp Cropper facility. Here he was officially photographed and his long beard was shaved.

He was visited in his cell the next day, by members of the Iraqi Governing Council. It is believed that Saddam has stayed at this high security location for the majority of his capture.