Report: Assassination squad leader captured

[unhappycamper]

Report: Assassination squad leader captured
By Lauren Frayer - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jun 9, 2008 8:13:38 EDT

BAGHDAD — U.S. soldiers in Baghdad captured an Iraqi arms dealer and “assassination squad” leader responsible for trafficking Shiite extremists in and out of neighboring Iran for training, the military said Sunday.

The arrest came as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was visiting Iran and was expected to raise with its leaders the long-time U.S. allegations that Tehran arms, trains and funds Shiite Muslim militiamen inside Iraq. Tehran denies the charges.

The Iraqi prime minister, himself a Shiite, is struggling to keep Washington happy while reassuring Iran, the largest Shiite nation, that a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security agreement would not make his country an American launching pad for attacks on Iran.

The U.S. arrest campaign against Shiite militiamen with alleged ties to Iran was likely to be on the agenda for al-Maliki’s talks with Iranian officials.

Meanwhile, six shepherds were killed execution-style before dawn Sunday by suspected al-Qaida-linked militants masquerading as fellow herders east of Baghdad, police said. The killings took place in a sprawling desert area where such militants are believed to have sought refuge after U.S.-Iraqi offensives against them in western Anbar province and in Baghdad, police said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_capture_iraq_060808/

[Bob Dobbs]

1. Bulls**it propaganda.

AP lies.