URGENT: 'TARGET #1': al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq

Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the "target number one" in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources. Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq.

The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of 10 million dollars, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.

There have been no official reports about the arrest of the terrorist. Al-Zarqawi, 38, a Jordanian, whose real name is Ahmad al-Khalayleh, aims to turn Iraq into a "new Afghanistan". According to Arab press data, Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad group has divided Iraq into several emirates. The group's independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 militants operate in the cities of Al-Falluja, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.

The personnel of the group is on the whole 1,500-strong and includes Iraqis and citizens of Arab and Islamic countries. There are demolition experts and missilemen among them.

The group has depots of weapons and explosives in various parts of the country. It intends to frustrate the upcoming parliamentary elections that are scheduled for the end of this month. Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad threatens to do away with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and members of the interim government

ALL BUT 100% CONFIRMED ON AL-ZARQAWI'S (THE MAIN MAGGOT) CAPTURE - ping.

(Hope he is passed around among the troops in Fallujah for a proud and festive PANTY PARTY.)

______________________________________________________

(via MattDrudge)>p> UPDATE //
Tue Jan 04 2005 11:18:47 ET

U.S. military and intelligence sources are denying print and broadcast reports that terrorist Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi has been arrested in Iraq, MSNBC reported Tuesday.

MSNBC said senior U.S. military and intelligence sources told it the reports are not true. A newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, al-Bayane, reported in its Tuesday edition that the Jordanian-born terrorist had been arrested in Baqouba, Iraq. Iraqi Kurdistan radio also reported the arrest of al-Zarqawi.

The U.S. military in December said al-Zarqawi likely is in the Baghdad area.

x x x x x

URGENT: 'TARGET #1': al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq
Tue Jan 04 2005 09:49:47 ET

DUBAI, January 4 (Itar-Tass) - Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the "target number one" in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources. Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq.

The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of 10 million dollars, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.

There have been no official reports about the arrest of the terrorist. Al-Zarqawi, 38, a Jordanian, whose real name is Ahmad al-Khalayleh, aims to turn Iraq into a "new Afghanistan". According to Arab press data, Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad group has divided Iraq into several emirates. The group's independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 militants operate in the cities of Al-Falluja, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.

The personnel of the group is on the whole 1,500-strong and includes Iraqis and citizens of Arab and Islamic countries. There are demolition experts and missilemen among them.

The group has depots of weapons and explosives in various parts of the country. It intends to frustrate the upcoming parliamentary elections that are scheduled for the end of this month. Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad threatens to do away with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and members of the interim government.

Developing...

POSSIBLE RELATED NEWS

U.S. Forces Detain Zarqawi-Linked Militant in Iraq
Wed Dec 29, 9:45 AM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...rqawi_arrest_dc

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces have captured a man described as a senior commander of a militant group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Iraqi government said on Wednesday.

It said in a statement the 33-year-old Iraqi, whom it named only as Abu Marwan, was a leader of the hitherto unknown Abu Talha group, affiliated to the Jordanian militant whom Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) this week endorsed as his lieutenant in Iraq (news - web sites).

Zarqawi's Al Qaeda Organization in Iraq has claimed responsibility for some of bloodiest suicide bombings and beheadings of foreign hostages in Iraq this year.

A separate but possibly allied group, Ansar al-Sunna, said it was behind last week's suicide bombing of a U.S. mess tent in Mosul, which killed 18 Americans and three Iraqis.

The government statement did not say whether Abu Marwan was connected to that suicide bombing.

"Abu Marwan was responsible for conducting and commanding terrorist operations in Mosul, purchasing weapons for Talha's terrorist group, and coordinating the training of terrorist cells within the Abu Talha terrorist group," it said.

It said Abu Marwan had been detained six days ago after a tip-off from local residents.

U.S. forces launched an offensive on the western city of Falluja last month, with the aim of crushing foreign fighters loyal to Zarqawi, whom it said were leading a Sunni insurgency from there.

But U.S. and Iraqi officials have since acknowledged that Islamic militants slipped out of Falluja ahead of the assault and headed for other Sunni cities, notably Mosul which has witnessed a growing slide toward chaos in recent months.

Hannity is officially banned, both radio and TV, from my home or office.

I suffered through it today because of George Will, who is getting a little tepid of late too. Hannity always refers to everyone as his good friend, he kisses too much liberal butt to get an interview, "let your heart not be troubled"- (BARF), nis nasal voice is so irritating, and see if you ever notice, oh how can you - you don't listen, how many times he sticks an extra "here" on at the end of sentences. He's so simple. His heart is in the right place, but I can see how the libs can't stand him, I have a hard time listening to him.

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