Former Iraqi defence Mmnister Sultan Hashim Ahmed has surrendered to US forces.
Mr Dawood Bagistani, a local human rights official who has acted as go-between in talks with Mr Ahmed, said the surrender would be officially announced later at a news conference in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
Mr Ahmed is number 27 on Washington's wanted list of former top officials under Saddam Hussein.He is the eight of hearts in a pack of playing cardsissued to US troops to help them identify fugitive Iraqileaders. Saddam himself is the ace of spades.
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Sultan Hashim Ahmed
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Mr Bagistani said the surrender conditions would call for Mr Ahmed to be kept in US custody only long enough for him to be thoroughly questioned. He could then return to normal life and would not be prosecuted by the Americans. There was no confirmation from the United States.
The US general who controls northern Iraq promised early this week to treat Mr Ahmed with "utmost dignity and respect" if he surrendered.
The offer - made in a letter signed by Maj Gen David Petraeus - was in response to a request by Mr Ahmed's family and tribal chiefs that the Army remove his name from America's list of 55 most wanted Iraqi officials in return for his surrender.
"I offer you a simple, yet honourable alternative to a life on the run from Coalition forces in order to avoid capture, imprisonment and loss of honour and dignity befitting a general officer," Major Petraeus said in the letter.
"You have my word that you will be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, and that you will not be physically or mentally mistreated while under my custody. As a sign of good faith, I will personally ensure that my staff will attend to any medical conditions you have."
In the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam chose Ahmed to head the Iraqidelegation at ceasefire talks near the border with Kuwait.However, he was regarded largely as a figurehead in the Iraqiarmed forces with real control resting with Saddam.