US army says key terror leader captured in Karbala

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
A key terror leader linked to the deaths of at least six coalition soldiers was captured in Karbala, the US military said Friday, a day after the local council issued strong protests over the arrests of three members. The military said Iraqi soldiers, assisted by coalition advisers, conducted an early morning ground assault raid on Thursday in the Shi'ite holy city, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, and captured "a high-ranking terrorist network commander without firing a shot." The suspect was identified by the military as Sheik Aqeel. "Aqeel commands a Karbala terrorist network and is wanted for assassinating Iraqi citizens and planning and ordering attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces," the military said in a statement.