Leading figure in al-Qaida arrested, security in Iraq deteriorating

US President George W. Bush rejected to specify a date for the withdrawal of the American forces form Iraq, while security conditions in the country have been deteriorating several days before the Iraqi parliamentary elections.

Bush described the continued demands to set a schedule for withdrawal as a wrong policy considering that this would boost the morale of the enemy and confuse the Iraqis and would send a wrong signal to the American youths who wear the military uniform.

Bush said that his administration has a strategy to achieve victory, noting that he will stick to this strategy until the end. On the other hand, the American forces said it detained in Ramadi, west of Iraq, a prominent member in al-Qaida organization called by the Iraqis "the killer." A statement by the American army said that Iraqis handed over Amir Khalaf Fanous, called by local inhabitants as "killer" to a military base for the Iraqi and American army in Ramadi.

The statement described Ramadi as a remarkable member in al-Qaida organization in Iraq, noting that he is wanted "over criminal activities including the kidnapping and killing of hostages."