AQI’s Baghdad Ruler captured – BOC

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A leading member of the Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) network who was the group’s so-called Ruler of Baghdad was arrested in Hittin neighborhood in the Iraqi capital, according to the Baghdad Operations Command on Thursday. “The arrested man, whose name is Manaf Abdulrehim al-Rawi, alias Falah Abu Hayder, was born in Moscow in 1975. He joined the terrorist Al-Qaeda group in 2003 and was appointed by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi as Ruler of Baghdad in 2008,” BOC official spokesman Maj. General Qassem Atta said during a press conference. “The suspect is responsible for several terrorist operations, including the assassination of lawmaker Harith al-Obaidi. He also oversaw the blasts that targeted the buildings of the foreign affairs and finance ministries, the provincial council, the court of appeal and the judicial institute,” said Atta. He added that Abu Hayder is also responsible for the bungled assassination attempt that targeted the planning minister by means of an explosive car driven by a suicide bomber of an Arab nationality in Baghdad’s al-Tahreer Square. “The suspect has also orchestrated the bombing attacks that targeted embassies and hotels in Baghdad, the criminal investigations department and the special voting centers on March 4, 2010,” Atta noted. AmR (S) 4