Determined Manhunt Leads to Major Terrorist Catch

U.S. officials announced today that Iraqi
forces captured a terrorist leader in Iraq early last month.

Iraqi forces captured and arrested Iraqi terrorist leader Muhammed Hila
Hammad Ubaydi, also known as Abu Ayman, in the Mahmudiyah neighborhood
of southern Baghdad March 7. Investigators held notice of this capture
until now to wait for the results of DNA testing, which confirmed the
identity of the man in custody.

"Ayman's capture was the result of a determined manhunt conducted by
Iraqi intelligence professionals and several intelligence agencies within
the coalition," U.S. officials said in a release.

Until his capture, Abu Ayman, the aide to Saddam Hussein's chief of
staff of intelligence during the former regime, was the leader of the
Secret Islamic Army in northern Babil province. Abu Ayman has strong ties
to fugitive Jordanian terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, still
considered the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, U.S. officials said.

Abu Ayman is the prime suspect in the kidnapping of Italian journalist
Giuliana Sgrena and in assassination attempts on Iraqi government and
security force officials. He also is the prime suspect in the kidnapping
and killing of several hostages in Iraq and in committing some of the
most lethal improvised-explosive-device attacks on coalition and Iraqi
forces and on Iraqi citizens.

"Iraqi and coalition forces consider Abu Ayman's capture significant in
their pursuit to lay to rest the terror cells that have caused death
and destruction in Iraq," according to the release.

Officials believe Abu Ayman's capture will not only disrupt some of
these attacks, and that his capture will undoubtedly save lives, but that
he will also provide valuable information leading to the capture of
other terrorists he has worked with in the past.