Iraq captures Tunisian blamed for Shiite shrine bombing

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq says it has captured a Tunisian alleged to be one of the main Al-Qaeda militants responsible for the bombing of a revered Shiite shrine in February which unleashed a wave of sectarian violence.

"We managed to capture Abu Qudama al-Tunisi, a Tunisian, recently and he took an active part in blowing up the Golden mosque," national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie told reporters Wednesday.

"Abu Qudama has taken an active part in blowing up the Golden mosque under the leadership of Haitham al-Badri who is the leader of the (Samarra) cell

of Al-Qaeda in Iraq."

Rubaie said Badri, an Iraqi who was a former regime officer before joining Al-Qaeda, headed the cell, which in addition to Abu Qudama includes four Saudi nationals and another Iraqi. Badri remains at large.

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