Over 100 AQI leaders head to Baladroz

DIALA / IraqiNews.com: More than 100 al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders have fled towards Baladroz district in the southwest of Baaquba city, an official intelligence source from Diala said on Sunday. “The return of displaced persons to their houses in the southwest of Baaquba city has been delayed after more than 100 al-Qaeda leaders have fled to areas located in southern Baladroz district (45 km southwest of Baaquba),” the source told IraqiNews.com news agency. “Most of the displaced families could not return home in southern Baladroz due to al-Qaeda’s control of the area,” the source added. Over 27,000 families were forced to leave their houses in Diala province in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2003. Baaquba, the capital city of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad. SS (P) 1