Top al-Qaida figure 'arrested' in Iraq

5/19/2008 - 1:01:51 PM

Iraq’s interior ministry says police have arrested the top al-Qaida in Iraq figure in the northern city of Mosul, scene of an intensified crackdown on the terror network.

Major General Ahmed Taha says Abdul-Khaliq al-Sabawi, the al-Qaida “wali” of Mosul, was arrested today in Salahuddin province, which neighbours Mosul’s Nineveh province to the south.

“Wali” is an Arabic word meaning “governor” and is used by al-Qaida in Iraq to refer to its regional leaders.

US-backed Iraqi security forces have been carrying out a major sweep of Mosul and nearby regions to root out al Qaida in Iraq fighters.