Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq

ITAR-TASS ^ | 01/04/05

[TexKat]

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.

[nopardons]

It's AMARULA and I made a lot of sense.

But thanks for the well wishes...I really MUST go to bed. :-)

[F14 Pilot]

saw this?

[William of Orange]

too good to be true?

PLEASE let it be true!

[GSlob]

Fully agree with you. They could not be trusted even with yesterday weather report.

[tiamat]

I just got here.

So do we know if the SOB is caught or not?

(Good morning! )

[F14 Pilot]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-01/04/content_405831.htm

[Mo1]

I've lost count how many times Zarqawi was reported under arrest

I think I'll wait for Centcom to confirm

[tiamat]

Thanks!

hope it's true!

[F14 Pilot]

I can see some Arab based media confirm this as well

[ApplegateRanch]

ROFLMAO! You are so right, and not only that, but he DIED in 1965!

I wonder if this was a garbled misunderstanding of his son, Adlai III. & his state rep& US Senate runs?

"STEVENSON, Adlai Ewing III...elected in a special election on November 3, 1970, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired term caused by the death of United States Senator Everett M. Dirksen; reelected in 1974, and served from November 17, 1970, to January 3, 1981; was not a candidate for reelection in 1980;"

[Recovering_Democrat]

Hoping and praying it is true...........

[Recovering_Democrat]

Blame Rumsfeld! It is his fault Zarqawi was captured!

[SubMareener]

Let's not get to happy too soon. The PUK Website, is now carrying the story that high level official at the US Embassy have denied that Zarqawi was arrested.

[Darkwolf377]

I'm sure DUmmies question the timing...

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Check this out...

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq (itar-tass.com) Updated: 2005-01-04 14:37 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-01/04/content_405831.htm

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 US$10 million, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.

[Coop]

Well, here are the follow-on reports we were hoping to see. Now if they would only turn out to be true. [fingers crossed and praying]

[mewzilla]

Whoa, did we really get this guy? I'm warming up my Happy Dance just in case...

[Coop]

I wouldn't count on it, but there's always hope! I did a quick scan of search engines and came up with nothing new.

[mewzilla]

Well, I hope his thug friends and allies are sending out for Depends. And even if it isn't true, the rumor could still be very useful if we were in a position to monitor any coakroaches as they scattered.

[Dog]

Did we get him or not?