Iraqi authorities closer to nabbing al-Qaeda chief

BAGHDAD – Security forces are close to capturing or killing the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, a senior Iraqi official said yesterday, showing a captured video of the terror chief teaching followers how to build a car bomb.

The video, displayed to journalists, showed al-Masri – his face exposed- going through what appeared to be a storage bunker, pointing out different elements of a car bomb in what National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie called an instructional CD. “My message to Iraqis in Ramadan, God willing, is that in a very short time, we will bring you the good news of Abu Ayyub al-Masri either killed or handcuffed to be brought before the Iraqi justice system,” al-Rubaie told the press conference.Al-Rubaie did not elaborate on why he believed security forces were close to catching al-Masri, who was named as leader of Iraq’s most feared terror group after the death of his predecessor, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in a US airstrike north of Baghdad in June.Al-Rubaie said the video was found in Youssifiyah, 20 kilometres south of Baghdad, a few days ago, and that al-Qaida in Iraq had been distributing the video to its followers.”My message to Abu Ayyub al-Masri is that we are closer to you than you can imagine – your days are numbered and you will face your fate very soon,” al-Rubaie said.In the video, al-Masri, wearing a white T-shirt, is seen talking to the camera as he moves beside boxes and coils of wire.His hair was cut short and he wore glasses and had a moustache but no beard.No one else appeared in the video.”He is copying this video for distribution to the killers and criminals to spread murder and sabotage among Iraqis,” al-Rubaie said.”We are displaying this tape to let Iraqis know who is their No.1 enemy,” he said.”We are displaying this tape to let Iraqis to recognise him easily and make it hard for him to hide.”It was the first time al-Masri – also known by the pseudonym Abu Hamza al-Muhajer – has appeared showing his face in a video, though US and Iraqi military officials have shown photos of him.Nampa-AP”My message to Iraqis in Ramadan, God willing, is that in a very short time, we will bring you the good news of Abu Ayyub al-Masri either killed or handcuffed to be brought before the Iraqi justice system,” al-Rubaie told the press conference.Al-Rubaie did not elaborate on why he believed security forces were close to catching al-Masri, who was named as leader of Iraq’s most feared terror group after the death of his predecessor, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in a US airstrike north of Baghdad in June.Al-Rubaie said the video was found in Youssifiyah, 20 kilometres south of Baghdad, a few days ago, and that al-Qaida in Iraq had been distributing the video to its followers.”My message to Abu Ayyub al-Masri is that we are closer to you than you can imagine – your days are numbered and you will face your fate very soon,” al-Rubaie said.In the video, al-Masri, wearing a white T-shirt, is seen talking to the camera as he moves beside boxes and coils of wire.His hair was cut short and he wore glasses and had a moustache but no beard.No one else appeared in the video.”He is copying this video for distribution to the killers and criminals to spread murder and sabotage among Iraqis,” al-Rubaie said.”We are displaying this tape to let Iraqis know who is their No.1 enemy,” he said.”We are displaying this tape to let Iraqis to recognise him easily and make it hard for him to hide.”It was the first time al-Masri – also known by the pseudonym Abu Hamza al-Muhajer – has appeared showing his face in a video, though US and Iraqi military officials have shown photos of him.Nampa-AP