MUMBAI: It was an unexpected finale to a long drama and Discovery Channel is set to make it a special.

Capturing Saddam , a programme portraying the capture Saddam Hussein will premiere on Thursday, 15 January 2004 at 9:00 pm. Hussein, branded as a dictator of the modern era was caught after months of frustrating search operations that cost the United States Army several human lives and millions of dollars.

Feared as a vicious oppressor, who killed tens of thousands of people, Saddam Hussein was caught in a rather peaceful manner in a 'spider hole' on a deserted farm, says a company release.

The infotainment channel will be airing the finale of an eight-month long manhunt, which ended on the night of 13 December 2003 after one of the Hussein's family members volunteered information about his location. The Iraqi military leader was caught hiding in a six to eight foot hole that was camouflaged with bricks and dirt.

One Alliance's infotainment channel will be airing the operation titled 'Operation Red Dawn', conducted by 600 soldiers of the US Army's 4th Infantry Division and the events that unfolded thereafter.

According to Discovery Communications India director - marketing, Aditya P Tripathi, "The capture of Saddam Hussein has been one of the most closely followed events in recent times. With Capturing Saddam, Discovery Channel brings to viewers contemporary history in the making. The programme gives viewers a blow by blow account of how the most feared dictator in the world was captured."

The United States brought all its financial resources into play, purchasing information from anybody who was close to Saddam. It took U.S. intelligence several months and millions of dollars to evaluate and act upon the 'actionable intelligence'.

Saddam's day in court will be a defining moment for Iraq and for global human rights. Saddam will be tried for the mass-murder of Iraqi Kurds in the late 1980s- a crime known as the Anfal genocide, informs release.