INDEPTH: IRAQ
Timeline: The capture
CBC News Online | December 15, 2003
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003
2:50 a.m.: Late in the morning, local time, the U.S. military receives information on Saddam Hussein's possible location near the town of Adwar, about 15 kilometres south of Tikrit, Saddam's hometown.
10:00 a.m.: About 600 coalition soldiers, including special forces, start moving towards two target areas, called "Wolverine One" and "Wolverine Two," in the early evening, local time.
12:00 noon: The soldiers move in on the two target areas, but don't find anything initially. They begin a systematic search and find a suspicious area northwest of Wolverine Two.
12:26 p.m.: Soldiers find Saddam in a tiny cellar at a farmhouse in Adwar at 8:26 p.m. local time. A U.S. spokesperson says Saddam gave up without a fight.
1:15 p.m.: Saddam is taken to a secret location and soldiers search the "spider hole" and the surrounding area. They find a pistol, two AK-47s and $750,000 US in $100 bills.
Afternoon: U.S. President George W. Bush is informed of the capture. The U.S. has not yet confirmed Saddam's identity.
Sunday, Dec. 14:
Early Morning: L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, calls Bush to confirm that the man they captured is Saddam.
7:00 a.m.: Bremer holds a press conference in Baghdad. "We got him," he announces, and shows video of Saddam's examination in U.S. custody.
7:15 a.m.: Prime Minister Paul Martin is informed of Saddam's capture and sends telegrams to Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to congratulate them.
9:04 a.m.: Blair comments on Saddam's capture. "Where Saddam's rule meant terror and division and brutality, let his capture bring about unity, reconciliation and peace between all the people in Iraq," he said.
12:15 p.m.: In an internationally televised speech, Bush said a "dark and painful era" is over. "Now the former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions," he said.
(All times EST)
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