Iraqi news on a Syrian role in arresting Sab'awi

Iraqi officials said that the Syrian authorities had arrested Ibtahim Sab'awi, half brother of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, in al-Hassaka city in Syria and handed him to the Iraqi government as a good intention initiative.

A high ranking official in the Iraqi government asked to be anonymous said that the "Syrian authorities because of the tremendous pressure on it handed over Ibrahim." News reports quoted Iraqi officials in Cairo that San'awi was arrested following the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister. No date was given on the detention.

Sab'awi who is on the most wanted names placed by the American army in Iraq had occupied the post of Saddam's advisor for intelligence affairs. The interim Iraqi government accuses al-Sab'awi of financing armed groups in Iraq.