WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- Coalition forces now have at least 12 of the top 55 most wanted Iraqi regime leaders, including Tariq Aziz, the regime's most public face after Saddam Hussein, U.S. Central Command announced Thursday.
The United States also has control of an intelligence official who was not on the list.
U.S. Central Command confirmed Thursday it now has custody of former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, No. 43 on the most-wanted list. Aziz was Iraq's foreign minister during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
Centcom officials would not offer details as to his capture. Various news agencies reported Thursday he surrendered.
Special operations forces on Wednesday captured Salim Said Khalaf al-Jumaylii in Baghdad. He is the former chief of the Iraqi Intelligence Service on the American Desk, according to command spokesman Jim Wilkinson. He is believed to know the names of Iraqi spies in the United States or elsewhere. He is not on the list of the top 55 Iraqi officials wanted by U.S. authorities.
Also in coalition custody is Muzahim Sab Hassan al-Tikriti. He was the Air Defense Force commander and No. 10 on the "Iraqi Top 55" list, Centcom announced Wednesday.
Zuhayr Talib Abd al-Sattar al-Naqib, the former director of military intelligence and No. 21 on the most wanted list, is also under coalition control, as is Muhammad Mahdi al-Salih, the former minister of trade and No. 48 on the list.
Saddam's son-in-law, Jamal Mustafa Sultan al-Tikriti, deputy chief of tribal affairs, surrendered to coalition forces Sunday.
On Monday, special operations forces captured Mohammed Hamza al-Zubeidi, a Baath Party commander and a former deputy prime minister.
Also under coalition control, according to Centcom:
Amir Hamudi Hasan al-Sadi -- Saddam's chief scientific adviser, No. 55; Hikmat al-Azzawi -- deputy prime minister, economics and finance minister, No. 45; Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti -- Baath Party official, Saddam Hussein's half-brother, No. 52; Samir Abd al-Aziz al-Najm -- Baath Party chairman and commander of Baath Party militia, No. 24; Humam Abd al-Khaliq Abd al-Ghafur -- minister of higher education and scientific research, No. 54; Watban Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti -- Baath party leader, Saddam's half-brother, No. 51.
