U.S. Troops Arrest Former Iraqi General

U.S. troops detained a former Iraqi general suspected of recruiting ex-soldiers to attack American forces, the military said.

Ex-army Gen. Mumtaz al-Taji was found Sunday night in a house in Baqouba, about 30 miles north of Baghdad.

“Tonight we were on a mission to capture a former Iraqi intelligence service general who we believe is recruiting former military members of the Iraqi army to conduct attacks against U.S. forces,” Maj. Paul Owen of the 588th Engineer Battalion told Associated Press Television News.

“He runs a very active cell in our sector and hopefully what we have done tonight is to stall some of his efforts,” Owen said. More than 30 soldiers took part in the raid and that they also seized a rifle, a pistol and ammunition, he said.

The search is one of dozens launched since deposed leader Saddam Hussein was captured Dec. 13.

Al-Taji is not on the U.S. list of the 55 most wanted Iraqis. Thirteen fugitives from that list remain at large.