Iraqi Forces Seize Top Zarqawi Aide in Iraq

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces have captured one of al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's top bomb-makers in Iraq (news - web sites), the prime minister's spokesman said Monday.

Sami Mohammed al-Jafi, known as Abu Omar al-Kurdi, is accused of being behind some 32 car bombings since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, it said.

Kurdi has been in Iraqi custody for over a month, but his capture was announced just a week before Iraq's landmark elections in which Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is running on a list that promises to bring security to beleaguered Iraqis.

"Kurdi has confessed to some 75 percent of the car bombs that were used for attacks in Baghdad since March 2003 and to making the explosives used in the attack on the Jordanian embassy in August 2003," spokesman Thair al-Naqib said.

"Kurdi also confirmed he was responsible for some of the bloody attacks on the police."

Iraqi forces said they also captured another insurgent earlier this month, Nayef Abbas al-Zubaydi, who heads the Abu Talha group linked to the Jordanian militant Zarqawi in the lawless northern city of Mosul, Naqib said.

Zubaydi, known as Abu Moawiya, was captured barely two weeks after the arrest of the previous leader of the group, Zain Abdallah Salah Khalaf al-Jib, or Abu Karam.

In an audio tape posted on the Internet Sunday, Zarqawi vowed all-out war against the elections and described those planning to participate as "infidel voters."

Insurgents have stepped up attacks intended to derail Iraq's Jan. 30 poll. Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest suicide bombings and hostage beheadings to hit the country.