The US-led occupying authority in Iraq has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture or killing of former vice-chairman of Iraq's Revolutionary Command Council and deputy commander of the Iraqi Armed Forces Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri.
Al-Douri is one of the top 55 former Iraqi regime officials being sought by the coalition and is alleged to be behind recent attacks against coalition forces and Iraqi civilians, reported Washington File. He is the highest-ranking member of Saddam Hussein's government who is still at large.
Senior Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) advisor Dan Senor told reporters on November 19, 2003, that CPA administrator Paul Bremer plans to promote the reward program more heavily since there is still a $25 million reward awaiting anyone who provides information that leads to the capture or killing of Saddam Hussein.
Deputy director for Combined Joint Task Force 7 operations in Iraq, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told the reporters that there is "persuasive evidence" linking Al-Douri to anti-coalition activities. The evidence, he said, led to a November 18 surgical air strike against a house Al-Douri was thought to be building. Structures are targeted for attack, he said, for reasons indicating that they have been used to harbor terrorists, fire mortar rounds, or build bombs, or have functioned as insurgent observation posts.
Kimmitt also provided an operational security update. "The military situation remains stable." Asked about the role of foreign fighters in Iraq, Kimmitt said, "The overwhelming number of attacks are done by Iraqis." He added that coalition forces are holding about 300 persons with non-Iraqi passports who are suspected of attacks against coalition forces. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
