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Captured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein pauses while talking in Baghdad Sunday Dec. 14, 2003

U.S. forces captured deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Saturday in a historic nighttime raid that is said to be a huge boost for troops battling insurgencies from his supporters.

Celebrations could be seen throughout Baghdad, as citizens were dancing in the streets and firing shots into the air. Some of the celebrations got out of hand, however, when a stray bullet struck a gasoline canister in central Baghdad. Early reports feared another car bomb attack, as one occurred early Sunday morning in Khaldiyah, west of Baghdad, outside an Iraqi police station. At least 17 were killed in that explosion.

But overall, worldwide sentiment was congratulatory toward U.S. efforts in Iraq. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, summed up the excitement succinctly.

"We got him," Bremer told reporters early Sunday morning. "The tyrant is a prisoner."

President Bush made his own address quickly after the news surfaced.

"The former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions," Bush said from the White House. "In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived."

The capture took place at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at one of dozens of safehouses Saddam is thought to have: a walled compound on a farm in Adwar, a town 10 miles from Tikrit, not far from one of Saddam's former palaces.

Some 600 troops and special forces were involved in the raid. Troops found the ousted leader, armed with a pistol, hiding in an underground crawl space at the walled compound. Saddam was "very disoriented" as soldiers brought him out of the hole, military officials said. A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Saddam admitted his identity when captured.

To show Iraqis that Saddam was in custody, U.S. military officials played a video at the news conference showing the 66-year-old Saddam in custody.

Saddam, with a thick, graying beard and bushy, disheveled hair, was seen as a doctor examined him, feeling his scalp and holding his mouth open with a tongue depressor. Saddam blinked and touched his beard during the exam. Then the video showed a picture of Saddam after he was shaved, juxtaposed for comparison with an old photo of the Iraqi leader while in power.

News of the capture prompted citizens of Kirkuk, a northern Iraqi city, to pour into the streets.

"We are celebrating like it's a wedding," said Kirkuk resident Mustapha Sheriff. "We are finally rid of that criminal."

Still, many Baghdad residents were skeptical.

"I heard the news, but I'll believe it when I see it," said Mohaned al-Hasaji, 33. "They need to show us that they really have him."

From Daily Bruin wire services.