US forces have captured General Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti, who was deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's personal secretary, national security adviser and senior bodyguard, CNN reported on Wednesday.

He was captured on Monday, Pentagon sources told CNN, without giving details

Mahmud was No 4 on the list of wanted persons issued by the US army to its soldiers, behind Saddam Hussein and his sons Uday and Qusay.

He was always seen by Saddam Hussein's side whenever the latter appeared in public.