Abu Musab al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq

[Emillereid]

04.01.2005, 07.18

DUBAI, January 4 (Itar-Tass) - Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the "target number one" in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources. Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq.


The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of 10 million dollars, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.


There have been no official reports about the arrest of the terrorist. Al-Zarqawi, 38, a Jordanian, whose real name is Ahmad al-Khalayleh, aims to turn Iraq into a "new Afghanistan". According to Arab press data, Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad group has divided Iraq into several emirates. The group's independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 militants operate in the cities of Al-Falluja, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.....

http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1619544&PageNum=0

Don't know if this is a dupe -- I couldn't find any reference to it.
Also don't know how reliable the story is -- anybody find the story anywhere else?

[Syrinx]

1. again?

He must be a better escape-artist than Houdini.

[txindy]

8. LOL That was my first thought, too! AGAIN?! How often can they catch him?

Who would they pretend to hunt if they didn't have him on the loose? OBL? Nah, they already pretended to hunt him. Hmmm...

[Sandpiper]

2. Nothing on AP or Reuters

I'm curious to see if this is true or not though.

[daleo]

3. There have been reports in other papers, not substantiated though

I am sure this will stop the resistance. I am waiting to see it on the telescreen, then I will crack a bottle of Victory Gin.

[saltpoint]

4. Ok, how many times will they not arrest him this week?

Early reports said they had him. Then it was no, we don't. Then back again a couple times.

A person could get confused.

[pinniped]

5. I always thought that al-Zarqawi was non-existant.

One day the assholes in the wh will say al-Zarqawi was killed and they will point to a body burned beyond recognition as their proof.

No one will collect the 25m USD reward because it is all bullshit.

[NYC]

6. How many legs does he have?

And has he been dead for over a year? I just want to know if this is the same man.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. He sounds like a deceased Florida Republican voter

He's usually dead, but gets resurrected when the need arises

[norml]

7. They used to have just arrested Osama Bin Ladin like this all the time.

They haven't just arrested him for a long time now. They haven't even been just closing in on his location for a few years now. If there is anything to this story, I will be amazed.

[catlawyer]

10. Locked, earlier today

See: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1121370

[Moderator]

11. Locking

as before until official reports can verify.