Iraq arrests top Saddam aide

2005-04-12 17:56

Baghdad - Iraq said on Tuesday it had arrested a former high-ranking Baathist, suspected of co-ordinating and funding the insurgency, in the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.

Fadil Ibrahim al-Mashhadani was arrested during a raid by Iraqi forces in farmland northeast of the capital, said a government statement.

It described him as "a leading member in the dissolved Baath party and a prominent leader of his (Saddam's) military bureau in Baghdad."

"It is believed Mashhadani is responsible for co-ordinating and funding terror attacks against the Iraqi people, government and security forces," said the statement.

"It is also believed he acts as a link between former Baathists hiding in Syria and terrorists inside Iraq."

Both the Iraqi and United States governments have long accused Syria, Iraq's western neighbour, of turning a blind eye to foreign fighters streaming into Iraq to wage jihad (holy war), and of being a safe haven for former regime loyalists.

Iraqi authorities said they recently arrested Ibrahim Sabawi - son of Sabawi Ibrahim al-Tikriti, a half brother of Saddam and also being held in custody for allegedly bankrolling rebels.

Sabawi sen, who was a presidential advisor to Saddam and an intelligence chief, was number 36 on the US list of 55 most-wanted former regime officials in Iraq.

He was arrested in early January when he crossed over from Syria, Iraqi officials have said.

But, there have been other reports saying Sabawi sen was handed over by the Syrians in an effort to demonstrate their co-operation with Baghdad and Washington.

- AFP