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Baghdad: L Paul Bremer, the top US administrator in Iraq, confirmed Saddam Hussein's capture today (Dec 14, 2003).

''This is a great day in Iraq's history,'' Bremer said. ''The tyrant is a prisoner.''

At a news conference, Bremer said the capture represented an opportunity for guerrillas fighting the US- led coalition authorities in Iraq to give up their insurgency.

Iraqi journalists at the news conference applauded Bremer before he spoke.

Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council also confirmed in a statement that Saddam Hussein was captured early today in his hometown of Tikrit and that he was being kept under heavy guard.

The statement said Saddam was captured in a joint operation by troops from the US-led coalition and Kurdish Iraqi forces. The US Army's 4th Infantry Division is the unit responsible for the Tikrit area in Central Iraq.

"He was wearing a fake beard and laboratory tests have proven his identity beyond any doubt,'' said the statement.

"On this occasion, the Governing Council would like to congratulate the Iraqi people and the entire human race on this huge victory,'' it added.

Agencies

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