Police capture Iraq insurgency leaders
Police have arrested two leaders of the insurgency in Iraq, including a top aide to Iraqi al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, it was announced today.
In western Baqouba, police chief Abdel Molan said his forces had arrested Haidar Abu Bawari, also known as the “Prince of the Holy Warriors.” He was described as a top aide to al-Zarqawi and the man behind the insurgency in Baqouba.
The Iraqi government also said it had arrested one of the masterminds of the insurgency in the northern city of Mosul, who was also a former member of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party, an announcement said.
Harbi Abdul Khudair al-Mahmoudi, 50, also known as Abu Nor, was arrested on Thursday when someone turned him in, an announcement issued by the interim government said.
A former Iraqi air force pilot, al-Mahmoudi formed an Islamic militant organisation called “The Jihadi Salafi group,” which carried out several attacks against the Iraqi National Guard.
“Documents which show dates of attacks he planned in Mosul were seized with him,” the announcement said. In addition to Abu Nor, the statement said that one his aides, Abu Younis, was also arrested.
In Baqouba, police said they arrested Abu Bawari after raiding a house.
“We found with him different kinds of weapons, including mortars, explosives, automatic weapons and computers in addition to photocopying machines which are used in forging identification cards for police officers,” Molan said.
Police said that they are pursuing Bawari’s brother-in-law, who was also described as a close aide to al-Zarqawi.
Al-Qaida in Iraq is believed to be behind series of bloody attacks against American forces, Iraqi national guardsmen and Shi‘ites.
