Ex-Iraqi Defense Minister Surrenders

Ahmad turned himself in after U.S. promises that he would be well treated, Daoud Baghestani, who arranged the surrender to U.S. Major-General David Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, told a news conference in the northern city broadcast live on Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV.

"There was no political or material price" for his surrender and "his name will be struck off the list of 55," Baghestani said, adding the operation was coordinated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Massoud Barzani, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

Hashem, who kept his defense Minister’s post till the last day of the Saddam regime, was a career officer who played a leading role in most of the wars launched by Iraq over the past 35 years of Saddam’s rule.

News of the negotiations first emerged Tuesday, September 16, when Bagistani, an official from the Iraqi Human Rights League, showed The Associated Press a letter to Ahmad from Petraeus, in which he promised to treat Ahmad with the "utmost dignity and respect" if he turned himself in.

The letter was dated August 28, and Bagistani said the negotiations had been going on since then to convince Ahmad the Americans would keep their end of the bargain.

The U.S. military in Baghdad declined to comment on Ahmad’s reported surrender, referring all questions to the Central Command.

"I think he (Ahmad) is now on his way to Baghdad," Baghestani said.

The surrender brings to 40 the number of most wanted Iraqi officials either killed or in U.S. custody. Ahmed is the eight of hearts in the pack of the U.S. playing cards.