Baghdad, June 05: The head of Iraq's al-Quds Army, set
up by Saddam Hussein to free Palestinian territories from
Israel, is in the custody of coalition forces, US Central
Command said today.
"Ayad Futayyih Khalifa al-Rawi, number 30 on the US
Central Command 'Iraqi top 55' list (of most wanted Iraqis) is
in custody," said a Centcom statement.
He was Chief of Staff of the al Quds Army which the old
regime's propaganda machine claimed had seven million trained
volunteers, but never carried out threats to move on Israel.
The rebel Army was said to be waiting for Arab states
bordering Israel to open their frontiers.
The Centcom statement gave no details about how al-Rawi
came to be in custody.
More than half the Iraqis listed as most wanted have been
captured or surrendered to coalition forces since the fall of
Saddam's regime on April 9, but the whereabouts of Saddam and
his two sons Uday and Qussay remain a mystery.
Bureau Report
