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Former PM Reveals Secrets on Birth of Al-Qaeda in Iraq

Baghdad, 23 May - The number two of the al-Qaeda network, Ayman al-Zawahiri, visited Iraq under a false name in September 1999 to take part in the ninth Popular Islamic Congress, former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi has revealed to pan-Arab daily al-Hayat. In an interview, Allawi made public information discovered by the Iraqi secret service in the archives of the Saddam Hussein regime, which sheds light on the relationship between Saddam Hussein and the Islamic terrorist network. He also said that both al-Zawahiri and Jordanian militant al-Zarqawi probably entered Iraq in the same period.

"Al-Zawahiri was summoned by Izza Ibrahim Al-Douri ? then deputy head of the council of the leadership of the revolution - to take part in the congress, along with some 150 other Islamic figures from 50 Muslim countries," Allawi said.

According to Allawi, important information has been gathered regarding the presence of another key terrorist figure operating in Iraq - the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Allawi's remarks come after statements to al-Hayat by King Abdallah II of Jordan over Saddam's refusal to hand over al-Zarqawi to the authorities in Amman.

On this question Allawi said: ''The words of the Jordanian King are correct and important. We have proof of al-Zawahiri's visit to Iraq, but we do not have the precise date or information on al-Zarqawi's entry

In Allawi's view, Saddam's government "sponsored" the birth of al-Qaeda in Iraq, coordinating with other terrorist groups, both Arab and Muslim. "The Iraqi secret services had links to these groups through a person called Faruq Hajizi, later named Iraq's ambassador to Turkey and arrested after the fall of Saddam's regime as he tried to re-enter Iraq. Iraqi secret agents helped terrorists enter the country and directed them to the Ansar al-Islam camps in the Halbija area," he said.

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CNN anchor Riz Khan joins forces with Al Jazeera

MUMBAI: Former CNN International anchor Riz Khan has joined the upcoming news network Al jazeera International. He will host an interactive interview show. When he was at CNN Khan hosted the show Q&A which was also interactive in nature. Al Jazeera International a 24-hour, English-language news and current affairs channel is set to broadcast globally from next year.

Khan’s new show, live daily from Washington DC, will feature world leaders, newsmakers and celebrities in a question and answer format led by viewer participation. Speaking about the upcoming channel Al Jazeera International MD Nigel Parson said, "This is the most exciting television news and current affairs project in decades. It will revolutionise the global news industry by offering viewers across the world a fresh perspective on news."

Khan’s show ? aimed at being the world’s most interactive interview programme ? will allow viewers to directly talk to newsmakers with their questions. Khan says, "I think we are at a turning point where viewers across the world are looking for a fresh approach to news and information. Al Jazeera brings together all the pieces to provide a complete picture on global issues. I’m incredibly excited to have this rare chance to build something so new and influential from the ground up.

"Al Jazeera International is all about revolutionising viewer choice. I’ve now got the chance to offer viewers around the globe a much-needed voice on the world stage. Imagine, a person at any level in society, in almost any country, having the chance to talk directly with a President or a Prime Minister, or even a global celebrity. It’s a wonderfully honest and equal opportunity for people ? something still uncommon in broadcasting."

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Iraq mass graves under Sadam(1)

Hamza Adnan, 8, Jinan Jassim, Ayah Faiz, 5, and Duha Munaf, 16, from left, watch Dubai-based satellite television station al-Arabiya in a house in the Karada area of Baghdad, Friday May 20, 2005, as it broadcasts Friday's front page of Britain's mass circulation tabloid newspaper, the Sun, showing Saddam Hussein standing in his white underwear while folding what appears to be a brown pair of trousers. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)