Iraqi security forces announce arrest of two men close to Saddam

BAGHDAD - Security forces have arrested two figures close to Saddam Hussein in the jailed dictator's northern hometown of Tikrit, the Iraqi government said Monday.
"On March 8, 2005, security forces, based on information from local Iraqis, captured the terrorists Abdullah Maher Abdul Rasheed, Marwan Taher Abdul Rasheed, and two others" in Tikrit, it said in a statement.
"Abdullah Maher was the brother-in-law of Saddam Hussein's son Qusay. It is strongly believed that he used large amounts of money that he received from Qusay and Saddam to finance terrorism in Iraq.
"In addition Marwan Taher was once a bodyguard for Saddam Hussein and has been involved in a number of attacks against the security forces," the statement read.
It was unclear whether US or Iraqi forces arrested the two men or whether it was a joint operation.

03/14/2005 18:42 GMT