US forces in Iraq have captured a top aide of Saddam Hussein, presidential secretary Mr Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti who was number four on the list of 55 most wanted Iraqis.
A US army spokesman said no information was available on where he was captured. During Saddam's rule, his presidential secretary was rarely far from his side.
Mr Mahmud was the ace of diamonds in the US "deck of cards" of most wanted Iraqis and the highest-placed to have been caught so far. US forces have now captured 32 of the 55 on the list.
News of the latest capture came as a senior US general said troops raided two farmhouses near Tikrit north of Baghdad today, capturing as many as 50 of former President Saddam's Special Republican Guard and security forces.
The troops also seized millions of American dollars, British pounds, Euros and Iraqi dinars which, it is claimed, were designated in part to pay bounties to kill American soldiers.
Army Maj Gen Ray Odierno told Pentagon reporters in a teleconference from Tikrit that his troops seized $8.5 million dollars, 300 to 400 million dinars, uncounted English pounds and Euros and jewels valued at up to $1 million.
The raids were the latest in a series aimed at trying to halt deadly ambushes on US troops in Iraq.