Iraq: Iraq's national security advisor says authorities have arrested the second most senior leader of the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group.
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said today (Sunday) Iraqi forces detained the group's second-in-command, Hamed Jumaa Farid al-Saeedi, a few days ago while he has was hiding in a residential building. The Iraqi official did not give the location.
Al-Rubaie says Saeedi ordered the bombing of a sacred Shi'ite shrine in the Iraqi town of Samarra in February. The attack triggered deadly sectarian fighting between Sunnis and Shi'ites that has killed thousands of people.
Al-Rubaie says the arrest of Saeedi provided intelligence that helped Iraqi forces kill or capture 11 other high-level al-Qaida figures and nine lower-level members.
Annan – Mideast: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reaffirmed his support for the U.N. ceasefire resolution that ended the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
After meeting the Iranian leader in Tehran today (Sunday), Mr. Annan said they both agreed to strengthen Lebanon's territorial integrity and independence and work together on reconstruction in the country.
Iran is one of the main backers of Hezbollah.
Mr. Annan said the Iranian president also emphasized his readiness to find a negotiated solution to his country's nuclear dispute with the West. But, he said Mr. Ahmadinejad repeated his rejection of U.N. demands for the suspension of uranium enrichment before negotiations can begin.
Iran – US: Former Iranian President
Mohammad Khatami, on a U.S. visit, says Washington's foreign policies are fueling terrorism around the world.
Mr. Khatami told a large gathering of American Muslims in Chicago that while the U.S. government says it is fighting terrorism, its policies are "arrogant" and "war-mongering", and only create more terrorism and violence.
The former Iranian leader made the comments Saturday at an annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America. Mr. Khatami urged American Muslims to form lobbying groups to challenge what he called the public's misguided perceptions of Islam.
Al-Qaida Video: The Bush administration says an al-Qaida video released Saturday reflects what it called the terrorist group's "twisted view of Islam."
A White House spokeswoman said the video demonstrates the organization's continued attempt to subjugate the world under its version of Islam, which labels as enemies those who do not share the same beliefs. U.S. officials say they are analyzing the video, which was introduced by al-Qaida deputy chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, to determine its authenticity.
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