Iraqi Qaeda-led group belittles capture report

DUBAI, Sept 4 (Reuters) An Iraqi al Qaeda-led group dismissed today the reported arrest of a man described as its no. 2 leader in Iraq as an attempt by US-led forces and the Iraqi government to cover up their own defeat.

In a statement posted on the Internet, the Mujahideen Shura Council did not explicitly deny the arrest but said: ''We bring good tidings to our brethren that all our leaders are well, praise God, leading the ranks.'' Iraq's national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie said yesterday that US and Iraqi forces had arrested Hamid Juma Faris al-Suaidi, al Qaeda's second most senior figure in Iraq, and killed 20 of his fellow militants.

''... the crusaders' media and their lackeys in the apostate government are trying to cover up their own defeat (and it is in this framework) that they announced the arrest of the second man in al Qaeda in Mesopotamia,'' said the statement. ''I do not know ...

how numerous their lies are,'' said the statement.

''What can the enemy do to us? If they jail us then this is solitude (to worship), and if they kill then this is martyrdom...

this is what our religion taught us.'' The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.

Rubaie said Suaidi was deputy to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who took over the Sunni Islamist group after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi died in a US air strike in June.

Despite his rank, Suaidi's name was not widely known. Rubaie did not disclose his nationality. Most fighters are Iraqi, officials say, but Zarqawi was Jordanian and Masri is believed to be an Egyptian, although there is some doubt on his identity.

Rubaie told a news conference Suaidi was arrested with several followers some days ago in an undisclosed area and was responsible for directing the man blamed for February's shrine bombing in Samarra that sparked much sectarian bloodshed.

''Jihad will continue until doomsday and battle fields will stand witness between the mujahideen and you. Those who do injustice will see what fate they will see.'' REUTERS AB PM2110