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Powell: Al Qaeda Cell Operating from Baghdad

(New York Times) - Powell set forth evidence of a well-developed al Qaeda cell operating out of Baghdad that was responsible for the assassination of American diplomat Laurence Foley in Amman, Jordan, last October. The network has operated for the last eight months under the supervision of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin, Powell said. Following the murder of Foley, a deputy to Zarqawi, who was driving across northern Iraq to the Turkish and Syrian frontiers, used his satellite phone to call the murderers to congratulate them and to tell them he was on his way to meet with them. Western intelligence detected the satellite phone signal and tracked the operative to Syria and then into Turkey, where he was arrested and turned over to the CIA for interrogation. The network has over 100 operatives and was planning terrorist attacks in a half dozen European countries, Mr. Powell said, adding that recent police raids in France and Britain stem from the disruption of the Iraq-based network.
2003-02-06 00:00:00
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