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Al-Zarqawi wounded - UK paper
15/05/2005 08:35 - (SA)
London - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the man most wanted by US-led forces in Iraq, was wounded and treated briefly at a hospital in Iraq last week before he disappeared with his men, a British newspaper reported on Sunday.
The doctor who claims to have treated him told an Iraqi reporter in the western city of Ramadi that Zarqawi was bleeding heavily when he was brought into the hospital on Wednesday, the Sunday Times reported.
The doctor was able to recognise the Jordanian-born militant linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network by photographs he had seen of him on television, the newspaper said.
The report came as US forces on Saturday ended a major week-long sweep dubbed operation "Matador" targeting militants loyal to Zarqawi.
The doctor's claim was supported on Saturday by a senior Iraqi commander who had been to Ramadi to investigate the report, the newspaper added.
The doctor, who refused to specify the nature of the wounds and asked not to be identified, was detained by the Americans on Friday for questioning, residents were quoted as saying.
"He was bleeding heavily and his escorts were well-dressed with a look about them that was different from the casualties and family members we had been receiving," the doctor was quoted as saying.
"I treated his injury and asked that he remain in hospital for further observations and told him that we would have to register him and take down his name and details," he was quoted as saying.
"But he became very nervous and agitated. He refused and told me he would not be staying," he reportedly added.
"The three men with him asked me politely that he be allowed to leave hospital immediately and that I supply them with a prescription and a list of medication that he may need," he was quoted as saying.
It was not the first time that Zarqawi has been reported wounded.
The US military said it was investigating reports that Zarqawi visited a hospital in Ramadi between April 27 and April 28 amid rumours he might be injured or unwell, The Washington Post reported on May 5.
The newspaper said US officials had offered no details as to why they believe Zarqawi might be wounded or ill.
- AFP
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