Posted on 02/23/2003 10:46:26 AM PST by knak
KUWAIT (Reuters) - An Iraqi arrested in Kuwait on suspicion of spying was gathering intelligence on U.S. forces massing for a possible invasion of Iraq, Kuwait said Sunday.
Kuwait's interior ministry said the Iraqi man, arrested two weeks ago, had supplied information on Camp Doha, the main military base for U.S. forces in Kuwait, to Iraqi officers.
"The spy passed on information about American forces in Doha camp, their numbers and equipment," Interior Ministry spokesman Ahmad al-Sharqawy said. Kuwait is a key regional ally of Washington and is seen as a main launch pad for any U.S.-led attack on neighboring Iraq.
The spokesman said the man, named as Zohair Fakeera Mohammed Nader, was a first lieutenant working for Iraqi intelligence. Nader, who had lived in Kuwait since 1980, remains in custody.
The arrest followed last month's detention of a Kuwaiti soldier on similar grounds. Kuwait said the arrest of Hamad Fahd al-Juway'id, suspected of spying for Iraq, showed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was planning "terrorist attacks" in the tiny Gulf state.
Kuwaiti officials have said they believe Iraq has spies and sleeper cells in Kuwait. Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 and occupied it for seven months before being driven out by U.S.-led forces in 1991.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.