Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Iraqi authorities had arrested some elements of the leadership of the militant organization al Qaeda, according to comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat Thursday. Iraqi police netted more than 500 criminals in raids in Baghdad this week including suspected drug dealers and weapons traders. | "militant organization"? Oh, it's a Rooters story, never mind. |
Allawi told al-Hayat of those arrested by Iraqi police: "Some of them are elements from the leadership of the al Qaeda organization." He did not name any of them. He also said the detainees had begun to cooperate effectively and fully with the investigative authorities and that people loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein outside the country were sending money to fund their criminal acts in Iraq. "We are discovering that there is a sort of increasing cooperation between parts of the Saddam regime and elements of al Qaeda, for example Zarqawi," he added, referring to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the wanted Jordanian-born militant and suspected al Qaeda ally. | "suspected al-Qaeda ally"? Just what the hell does he have to do, wear a T-shirt that sez "I'm with Binny"? |
He said he meant the relationship was developing into a form of cooperation on criminal activities, and human and information resources. A statement signed by Zarqawi and posted on an Islamist web site Wednesday warned he was still aiming to kill Allawi, and his Tawhid and Jihad Group has claimed responsibility for several suicide bombings and other attacks on Iraqi and U.S. officials in recent months. It also killed a Bulgarian, an American and a South Korean hostage in Iraq. |