Ansar al-Islam chief captured, US says

The United States military claims that Iraqi forces have captured the leader of the Kurdish militant group Ansar al-Islam in Baghdad.

Abu Abdullah al-Shafil and several of his fellow militants were captured "during a series of joint security operations conducted in [the Baghdad areas of] Mansour and Adhamiyah," the US forces said in a statement, AFP reported.

The group, formed in 2001, is blamed for a 2003 bombing which killed an Australian journalist.

Shafil "is believed to have served the terrorist organization since its inception" and "held association with Osama Bin Laden," the statement added.

Prior to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Washington claimed the group was linked to the Baath Party of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Ansar al-Islam is also said to run a European network.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=125357§ionid=351020201.