Iraqi officials: Al-Zarqawi aide held
Iraqi forces have captured what the interim government describes as a trusted aide to Jordanian-born fighter Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The man identified as Talib Mikhlif Arsan Walman al-Dulaymi, and also known as Abu Qutayba, was captured in Ana, 260km northwest of Baghdad, on 20 February, a government announcement said on Friday.
“Security forces in Iraq conducted a raid in Ana on 20 February resulting in the capture of Talib Mikhlif Arsan Walman al-Dulaymi, aka Abu Qutayba, a trusted lieutenant of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Abu Qutayba was responsible for determining who, when and how terrorist network leaders would meet with al-Zarqawi,” the announcement said.
It added that another man, Ahmad Khalid Murad Ismail al-Rawi, who also helped arrange meetings for al-Zarqawi and “occasionally acted as his driver”, was also arrested.
It said the man, also known as Abu Uthman, was captured in the same raid. Both names are Iraqi and belong to well-known Sunni tribes in and around the town of Ramadi.