U.S. launches major raid on Iraqi town

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=413695§ion=news

HAWIJA, Iraq (Reuters) - Up to 1,000 U.S. troops have swept into an Iraqi town to hunt for masterminds of a relentless guerrilla war and caught 27 suspects, but say their most wanted man after Saddam Hussein was not one of them.

As Spain buried seven intelligence agents slain in Iraq but vowed to stay the course, Washington said on Tuesday nearly all its allies providing troops for the occupation had pledged to stay on despite a slew of such deadly attacks.

After U.S. soldiers raided the small town of Hawija near Kirkuk in the north, sources in Iraq's Governing Council said Saddam's right-hand man Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri had been captured or killed but the Americans said he was not among the detainees.

"He was definitely not captured in today's mission," Major Doug Vincent told reporters who accompanied troops in Hawija.

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