July 30, 2004
BBC Monitoring Middle East
Text of report by Najah Muhammad Ali in Tehran entitled "Unconfirmed reports of Al-Zarqawi's arrest", published by Elaph web site on 29 July Iraqi sources are talking about the possible arrest of Abu- Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the main suspected leader of widespread bombings and assassinations inside Iraq. The web site cited some Iraqi police commanders as telling people close to them that American and Iraqi investigators are trying to verify the detainee's identity and a sample of his blood has been sent to a laboratory for a DNA test.
Text of report by Najah Muhammad Ali in Tehran entitled "Unconfirmed reports of Al-Zarqawi's arrest", published by Elaph web site on 29 July
Iraqi sources are talking about the possible arrest of Abu- Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the main suspected leader of widespread bombings and assassinations inside Iraq. The "Iraquna" web site reported that the arrest was made after a campaign of raids and chases by a joint force from the multinational and Iraqi security forces. Al-Zarqawi was arrested at the outskirts of Hudaythah town, which is close to the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The web site cited some Iraqi police commanders as telling people close to them that American and Iraqi investigators are trying to verify the detainee's identity and a sample of his blood has been sent to a laboratory for a DNA test.
According to these sources, Al-Zarqawi admitted from the first moment that there is prearranged coordination with the so-called Saddam Fedayeen and that he had received 1bn dollars [figure as published] before the downfall of Saddam's regime in coordination with Qusay.
Investigators who took part in the first investigations sessions with the person believed to be Abu-Mus'ab al-Zarqawi asserted that he was threatened that he would be left in Al-Tahrir Square, the people would be told to come to see him, and the Iraqis would be let loose on him unless he confessed immediately. He provided the Iraqi police with information about the Monotheism and Jihad Group's places and hideouts, their addresses, and the means of contacting them. It became apparent that the majority of the places and centres for handing over instructions and sometimes weapons were in the western areas in addition to few terrorist centres scattered between Baghdad and some southern provinces.
The sources added that the detainee was wearing jeans and a white shirt when he was arrested and did not put up any worthwhile resistance after finding out that the house he was in was completely encircled and after helicopters began to help the Iraqi police in their mission. The multinational and Iraqi security forces continue to encircle the area where Al-Zarqawi was believed to be arrested.
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