Jerk posts unconfirmed news on blog site, soon to be discredited
WASHINGTON — Ayman al-Zawahiri, Usama bin Laden's right-hand man, was reported last night to be in custody in Iran along with several other top Al Qaeda leaders.If true, this is the biggest grab-bag of Al Qaeda leaders ever taken into custody. Zawahiri, especially -- his capture alone would be a great coup.
The Arabic news channel Al-Arabiyah said the fanatic Egyptian-born doctor is under arrest in Iran along with bin Laden's son Saad and Al Qaeda's infamous spokesman Abu Ghaith.
So an Arab TV outlet reports that Iran has these top guys in custody. But wait! Iran denies it! What gives there?
The al-Arabiya satellite television network, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, reported al-Zawahiri and al Qaeda spokesman Suleiman Abu Ghaith were among several al Qaeda suspects Iran had arrested in recent months.Huh. So it's a non-denial denial.But Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi, said the report was untrue.
"First of all this is not the case," Asefi said. "The people in question have not yet been identified. Also, there is no reason that even after the identification process is completed that we should discuss this issue with the media because this is a security issue."
I regurgiate the reports, you decide.
Posted by Matt at June 28, 2003 5:06 AM
