Iraq's Governing Council announced the arrest of former President Saddam Hussein this morning in a statement to the Iraqi people and said he was in detention under tight security.
"The Governing Council would like to announce to the Iraqi people and the whole world that this morning Saddam was arrested and that now he is in detention and under tight security," the statement said.
"He was arrested in Tikrit with the joint efforts of the Iraqi people in Kurdistan Iraq with the coalition forces, especially the 4th Division (of the US army)," it added.
"He was wearing a false beard and laboratory tests proved his identity without doubt. On this occasion the Governing Council congratulates the Iraqi people and humanity for this great victory."