Al-Qaeda leader nabbed in Wassit

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi police patrols arrested a high-ranking operative of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) with one his aides, and seized rockets found in their possession in northern Wassit, a security source from the province said on Tuesday. “The two gunmen are wanted for terror cases,” the source told IraqiNews.com news agency. “They are accused of carrying out armed operations throughout Wassit, in addition to killing and abducting civilians.” He said that the arrests took place during a raid at al-Sewayra suburb, 135 km north of Kut city. “Police forces found six Katyusha rockets at the two operatives’ safe-hide,” the source said. Kut, the capital city of Wassit province, lies 180 km south of Baghdad. MH (P)/SH 1