Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been captured. U.S. troops found Hussein at about 8:30 p.m. Iraqi time Saturday near his hometown of Tikrit, U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Sanchez said.

Hussein's Hiding Place

Hussein, 66, was hiding in a hole in the ground that measured between six and eight feet deep below the basement of a farmhouse. He had a beard to disguise himself. The arrest was made peacefully and no one was hurt.

A Great Day in Iraq’s History

At 7 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, held a press conference in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad to announce the news. "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him," Bremer said to the loud cheers of Iraqi reporters. "This is a great day in Iraq’s history. The tyrant is a prisoner."

The arrest marks a huge victory for U.S. forces in Iraq. Eight months after the fall of Baghdad, Iraqis celebrated the arrest of Hussein. In Baghdad, people drove through the streets, shouting, "They got Saddam! They got Saddam!" Radio stations played celebratory music.

"I'm very happy for the Iraqi people. Life is going to be safer now," said 35-year-old Yehya Hassan, a resident of Baghdad. "Now we can start a new beginning."

The Arrest

The arrest marked the end of one of the biggest searches in military history. The former Iraqi leader who had once lived in giant palaces was hiding in what military officials called a "spider hole." The opening of the hole was hidden with bricks and dirt. It had an air vent to allow Hussein to spend long periods inside. Military officials do not know how long he hid in the hole.

Two other Iraqis were also arrested in the military operation, called Operation Red Dawn. U.S. troops also found a few weapons and $ 750,000 in U.S. cash.

During the press conference, U.S. military officials played a video that showed Hussein being checked out by a doctor. Sanchez, the leading U.S. military official in Iraq, said Hussein "has been talkative and is being cooperative."

The Fall of Hussein

Hussein officially took power of Iraq in 1979. As president, he mistreated and killed his own people and broke many international agreements. For years, he was accused of hiding illegal weapons.

In an effort to disarm Hussein and remove him from power, the U.S. declared war on Iraq in March. In May, Bush said the major fighting in the war had come to an end. But Iraqi fighters loyal to Hussein and foreign terrorists continued to attack U.S. troops.

Hussein is being held by the U.S. military in a secret location in Iraq. U.S. officials must now decide exactly how and where Hussein will stand trial for his crimes.

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