US says militant held in Iraq has Iranian ties

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

US says militant held in Iraq has Iranian ties
26 May 2007 05:20:53 GMT

BAGHDAD, May 26 (Reuters) - Iraqi and U.S. troops detained
a militant leader suspected of ties to Iran's Revolutionary
Guards in a raid in Baghdad on Saturday in which five gunmen
were killed in an air strike, the U.S. military said.

The military, which has long accused Iran of supporting Shi'ite
militias in Iraq, said the raid took place in Sadr City, the
sprawling slum that is a stronghold of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada
al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia.

Residents of neighbouring districts were awoken by the
predawn raid in which dozens of blasts were heard.

"The individual detained ... is believed to be the suspected
leader in a secret cell terrorist network for facilitating the
transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or
EFPs, from Iran to Iraq as well as bringing militants from Iraq
to Iran for terrorist training," the U.S. military said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL617314.htm

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Related: Secret cell key leader detained, air strike in Sadr City - MNF Iraq

[datadiva]

1. How convenient! n/t

[Eugene]

2. 20 bodies found in Baghdad Friday - Reuters Factbox

Source: Reuters

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, May 26
26 May 2007 07:21:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

May 26 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq
at 0700 GMT on Saturday:

BAGHDAD - Police said they found the bodies of 20 people, most apparent
victims of sectarian violence, across Baghdad on Friday.

DIWANIYA - Gunmen killed three off-duty Iraqi soldiers in the southern
Iraqi city of Diwaniya on Friday, police said.

-snip-

DAQUQ - Police found the bodies of three people bearing signs of torture
on Friday in the town of Daquq, 40km (25 miles) south of Kirkuk, police
said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KHA625851.htm