Posted on 07/13/2004 9:56:33 AM PDT by TexKat
A suspected al-Qaida militant from Saudi Arabia has flown back to his homeland from the Iranian-Afghan border region to surrender under a government amnesty, state television said today.
Khaled al-Harbi, also known as Abu Suleiman al-Makki, gave himself up at the Saudi embassy in Tehran, according to the report. Television pictures showed a wheelchair-bound Mr Harbi being carried off a plane on arrival in the kingdom.
"Thank God, Thank God ... I called the embassy and we were very well received," al-Harbi told reporters in the airport terminal. "I have come obeying God, and obeying the (kingdom's) rulers." Al-Harbi described the amnesty as a "generous offer" and urged other militants to take advantage of it. The amnesty, which has a duration of one month, promises to spare the lives of those militants who surrender.
The ministry said al-Harbi will be taken to hospital for health care. It did not elaborate on his condition.
Mr Harbi is reported to have fought with Muslim fighters in Afghanistan and Bosnia. A Saudi security source said he was the man seen talking with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a videotape in which the two men praised the September 11 attacks in the United States.
He was the third person to surrender since June 23, when Saudi Arabia a one-month government amnesty for militants waging attacks against westerners, government targets and energy sites in the world's biggest oil exporter.
The two militants who have already surrendered in response to the amnesty include Othman Hadi Al Maqboul al-Amri, No. 21 on the most wanted list.
A Saudi security source said he was the man seen talking with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a videotape in which the two men praised the September 11 attacks in the United States.
Oh, that guy! Welcome home, Mr. Harbi.
I assume the CIA is under no obligation to honor this dopey little amnesty. Maybe Mossad can loan them an exploding cell phone.
13/07/2004 17:14 - (SA)
Riyadh - A disabled wanted Saudi militant and suspected al-Qaeda leader has turned himself in to authorities under a royal amnesty, the interior ministry announced on Tuesday.
"The wanted Saudi Khaled bin Odeh bin Mohammed al-Harbi, alias Abu Suleiman al-Makki, who had been in the Iranian-Afghan border region, contacted the (Saudi) embassy in Iran", state television reported, quoting an interior ministry official.
Harbi said he wanted to take up the amnesty offer and was flown to Saudi Arabia after an identity check, the official said.
"Since he is paralysed, he will be transferred directly to hospital to receive medical treatment," he said.
State TV showed Harbi being carried down a plane and put on a wheelchair. He was accompanied by a woman and a teenager.
He is only the third militant to surrender since the one-month amnesty was offered on June 23, but does not figure on a most-wanted list of suspected Islamist militants. AFP
Funny (not really), but before I came here I read the same story (Yahoo's version) and it left me wondering why they non-chalanted it. Now I see. The dude was tight with obl.
Rush talking about this guy now........
Khaled bin Odeh bin Mohammed al-Harbi, alias Abu Suleiman al-Makki
He seems like he's being treated like a returning prince.
By Sami Aboudi RIYADH (Reuters) - A suspected Saudi al Qaeda militant, who had appeared in a videotape with Osama bin Laden, was flown back to the kingdom from Iran after he surrendered under a government amnesty, state television said on Tuesday.
It said Khaled al-Harbi, also known as Abu Suleiman al-Makki, had been on the Iranian-Afghan border and had contacted Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran in response to the amnesty.
Television showed a wheelchair-bound and bearded Harbi being carried off a plane on arrival in the kingdom with his family. It did not say when he surrendered or returned to Saudi Arabia.
A Saudi security source said Harbi was the man seen talking with Saudi-born al Qaeda leader bin Laden in a videotape in which the two praised the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities. He said Harbi had fought in Afghanistan and Bosnia.
"He is big in the sense that he is one of the Saudis that were close to bin Laden," the security source said, adding that Harbi had not been involved in a spate of militant attacks in Saudi Arabia claimed by al Qaeda.
Harbi was the third person to surrender since Saudi Arabia announced on June 23 a one-month government amnesty aimed primarily at militants who have attacked Westerners, government targets and energy sites in the world's biggest oil exporter.
For over a year, Saudi Arabia has been battling militants loyal to al Qaeda, which carried out the September 11 attacks.
"I came in obeyance of God and the (Saudi) ruler... There is no doubt that this is a gracious initiative by King Fahd and his crown prince," the bespectacled Harbi told state television.
"There is no doubt this is an opportunity which every wise man who has faith in his heart should take advantage of and return to this country," he added.
The Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement that Harbi did not have any official documents when he arrived at the Saudi embassy in Tehran. The mission had issued the necessary papers for him and his family to fly them home "after coordination with Iranian authorities," the statement said.
The ministry said Harbi had been in the Iranian-Afghan border region and contacted the Saudi embassy in Iran "expressing his readiness to take advantage of the royal amnesty." It said Harbi would be taken directly to hospital.
The security source said that Harbi was not among Saudi al Qaeda militants believed to be in Iranian custody.
Iran is holding several al Qaeda suspects but has not revealed their identities or nationalities. Riyadh has asked Tehran to repatriate any al Qaeda militants it may be holding.
Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.
If he has any information even remotely useful to the US his head will be rolling around in a basket by nightfall....
Boy, would I like to be a fly on the wall for this interrogation.
"Mr. al-Harbi? Meet Mr. Cattle Prod. Mr. Cattle Prod, Mr. al-Harbi. I just know you two are going to hit it off..."
And this is suppose to be him at the present. After he saw the insecurity of that Palestinian wheel chair a few months back I guess old Harbi has had time to think.
A close associate of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was flown from Iran to Saudi Arabia today after surrendering to security officials at the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, a Saudi Interior Ministry official said. Khaled al-Harbi was believed to have been living near the Afghan-Iranian border.
Now why would an Al Quaeda guy be Iran's good graces? Hmmm...
...and how many more are there?? Can you say "Axis of Evil and Associates"?
If so, this is the guy imprinted on my brain for laughing the hardest about 9/11
His jihad buddies probably got tired of wheeling his fat fugitive ass around, so they rolled him up to a police station and ditched him.
This just sounds and looks suspicious to me.
Sounds like a law firm...
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