Medical tests have shown that a man being held in Iraqi custody is not Saddam Hussein's deputy, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri .
"The required tests to identify him showed he is not Izzat al - Douri ," said Interior Ministry spokesman Sabah Kadhim.
He said the man being held is related to al - Douri.
Iraqi officials yesterday claimed they had captured al - Douri during a shoot-out north of Baghdad, but later in the day the Iraqi defence minister said word of his arrest was "baseless."
American officials believe that al - Douri - Saddam's former right-hand man - is playing an organising role in the 16 month insurgency that has plagued US forces.
AP
