BAGHDAD - US forces have captured an Iraqi insurgent called Khaled Mashhadani and have revealed that the arrested man has links to Islamic fundamentalist terror organization al Qaeda. Mashhadani, who was captured in Mosul in early July is said to be a senior member of the al Qaeda in Iraq.
US officials said yesterday that intense interrogations of Mashhadani had taken place wherein he had revealed that the supposed new head of al Qaeda in Iraq Abu Omar al-Baghdadi did not exist and was just a figment of imagination.
Brig Gen Kevin Bergner confirmed that al-Baghdadi was a "fictional role," but that Mashhadani was a key figure in al Qaeda of Iraq. He was formerly with Ansar al-Sunna group before he joined hands with the late Abu Musab Zarqawi, who was the chief of al Qaeda in Iraq.
"Mashhadani is believed to be the most senior Iraqi in the al-Qaeda in Iraq network," Bergner confirmed.. The militant is believed to be vital in maintaining communications between Masri, Bin Laden and Zawahiri. The latter two are thought to be hiding out in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Additionally Mashhadani has reportedly revealed that al-Baghdadi character was created by Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the Egyptian head of al Qaeda.
"Baghdadi, who has never been seen, is an actor. To make Baghdadi seem real, Masri swore allegiance to him, knowing he was fictitious," Bergner revealed. "Mashhadani confirmed that Masri and al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders he surrounds himself with are foreigners."
The capture of Mashhadani was revealed to the public more than two weeks after he was first captured prompting speculation that the White House is keen to establish a link between Iraqi insurgents and the al Qaeda.
