Iraq insists suspected insurgent leader captured

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities Tuesday displayed the first public image of a jailed man they claim is the leader of an al-Qaida front group that is believed responsible for some of Iraq's most deadly bombings.

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State of Iraq — shown in the photo with a close-cropped beard and black T-shirt — was reported arrested last week in what could mark a setback for Sunni insurgents trying to intensify attacks after a relative lull.

But the capture or death of other high-ranking insurgent figures in the past has done little to undercut extremists' ability to carry out attacks.

A writer whose comments are widely read on Islamic Web sites, Muhub Ruyat al-Rahman, signaled insurgent groups were not certain the man captured was al-Baghdadi.

Regardless, he said, the "death of the leaders or their arrest will never halt the march of jihad, or holy war, and victory."

Authorities said al-Baghdadi had provided tips that led to the breakup of a bombing cell believed to be planning attacks to coincide with Saddam Hussein's birthday on Tuesday.

Al-Baghdadi's capture was announced by the Iraqi government last week but the claim met with skepticism due to similar announcements in the past that have proven false. The U.S. Defense Department said it still could not confirm the report.

Iraqi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said the government was certain the man arrested on April 23 was al-Baghdadi and showed the picture of a man with short hair and downcast eyes.

Al-Moussawi offered no other proof of identity, saying the investigation was ongoing and security forces were still trying to glean information from the detainee.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said he could not confirm al-Baghdadi's capture and described as "fairly accurate" a statement that every day that goes by without a confirmation increases the suspicion that it's not him.

Iraqi authorities hailed the purported arrest as a major victory for Iraqi forces reeling from accusations that they are not prepared to take over their own security in the wake of a series of high-profile attacks.

However, the killings and captures of insurgents in the past, including the 2006 death of the head of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, have failed to slow the insurgency.

The deadliest bombings in more than a year occurred last week after al-Baghdadi was purportedly caught, with more than 150 people killed over a period of two days