Top al-Qaida figure 'arrested'

Iraqi police have arrested al Qaida’s fourth-ranking figure in Iraq, the country’s state television said today.

The brief report on Iraqiya television identified the suspect as Mohammed Rabei, also known Abu Dhar.

The report identified him as No 4 in the organisation led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi but gave no further details.

Al Qaida in Iraq has been blamed for many of the kidnappings and beheadings of foreign and Iraqi hostages, as well as devastating suicide attacks against police, soldiers and civilians.