Iraqis capture al-Qaida shrine bomber

Iraq’s National Security adviser today said authorities had arrested a key al-Qaida suspect – a Tunisian – wanted for the bombing of the Shiite Golden Dome shrine last February in Samarra.

Mouwafak al-Rubaie said the ringleader in the operation, an Iraqi he identified as Haitham Sabah Shaker Mohammed al-Badri, was still on the run.

The bombing set in motion an epidemic of sectarian killing and revenge attacks on Sunni and Shiite mosques – a spasm of violence that took the country to the brink of civil war.

Al-Rubaie identified the arrested man as Yousri Fakher Mohammed Ali, a Tunisian also known as Abu Qudama.

The national security chief said Ali was seriously wounded in a clash with security forces north of Baghdad few days ago.

Fifteen other foreign fighters were killed in the confrontation, he said.

Al-Rubaie said Ali and al-Badri were in a gang that included one other Iraqi and four Saudis who plotted the attack.