US captures Qaeda suspect in killing of key Iraq ally
IRAQ: The US military said it had captured a suspect in the
killing of a key Iraqi ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda, as violence
left 22 people dead on Sunday after the militants warned of a bloody
Ramadan.
The suspected Al-Qaeda fighter was detained near Balad, north of
Baghdad, on Saturday, two days after Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Reesha was
killed in a car bomb near his home in western Anbar province, a military
statement said.
Abu Reesha, a Sunni Arab tribal leader, had spearheaded the fight
against Al-Qaeda in Anbar and was an important ally of the United States
in its battle against the Iraqi affiliate of Osama bin Laden's jihadist
network.
The US military named the detained Iraqi as Fallah Khalifa Hiyas
Fayyas al-Jumayli and said he was also suspected of involvement in a
plot to kill tribal leaders in Anbar.
"He is also reportedly responsible for car bomb and suicide vest
attacks in Anbar province, and is closely allied with senior Al-Qaeda in
Iraq leaders in the region," the statement said.
The Islamic State of Iraq, which is affiliated to Al-Qaeda, claimed
responsibility for Abu Reesha's killing in an Internet statement on
Friday, and warned it would target all Sunni leaders who support US
troops in Iraq. It also vowed a new offensive during the Muslim holy
month of Ramadan.
Security and medical officials said at least 22 people died in
bombings and gunbattles in Iraq, despite extra security forces deployed
for Ramadan and a surge in US troop numbers aimed at quelling sectarian
violence that has has killed thousands of Iraqis.
In Baghdad, the relative calm which had prevailed since the holy
month began on Thursday was shattered when a car bomb ripped through
crowds outside a shopping mall, killing two people and wounding seven,
security and medical officials said.
In another incident, nine people were killed and 15 wounded when a US
State Department motorcade came under fire in the Yarmuk neighbourhood
of west Baghdad. "The motorcade of six four-wheel drive vehicles came
under fire and occupants of the motorcade returned fire in which nine
bystanders were killed and 15 wounded," a security official said.
A US embassy official confirmed that there had been an exchange of
fire involving a diplomatic convoy but had no word on any casualties.
Baghdad, Monday, AFP |
