Former Iraqi defense minister surrenders surrenders to coalition forces: Al-Jazeera

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Former Iraqi defense minister surrenders surrenders to coalition forces: Al-Jazeera

Former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed has surrendered to US-led coalition forces, the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite news channel reported Friday.

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Former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed has surrendered to US-led coalition forces, the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite news channel reported Friday.

Ahmed is number 27 on the US wanted list of top officials under the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

So far, 40 of the 55 most wanted have either surrendered or been arrested or killed.

The former minister gave himself up in Mosul, 450 kms north of Baghdad, Daoud Bagistani, a Kurd human rights activist and mediator between the US military and Ahmed's family, told a press conferencein the city.

Mosul is where Saddam's two elder sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in their hide-out by US troops in July.

"At eight o'clock this morning (0400 GMT) Sultan Hashim Ahmed and his family surrendered to coalition forces," Bagistani said,adding that ex-minister "is now on his way to Baghdad."

The US military has kept its promise to treat him well and Ahmed will only be held in custody long enough to be questioned,according to Bagistani.

The mediator said Ahmed's name, the eight of hearts in a deck of cards issued by Washington to represent the 55 figures, will be removed from the wanted list.

Bagistani had said his investigation found no complaints raised by the Iraqis against the former minister.

Before the US-led war was launched in March, rumors said Ahmed was disfavored by his boss Saddam and was under house arrest.

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