Скачать или смотреть Iraqi authorities explain circumstances around Abu Nidal's death

(21 Aug 2002)

1. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Tahir Jalil Haboush, Head of Iraqi Intelligence,
"A security group has been formed and they went to Nidal's house to inform him that he entered the country illegally and that, according to law, he should go with them for investigation. Initially, he welcomed the idea. He asked for permission to change his clothes. He entered his room, locked the door, and a gun shot was heard. Then it was realised that he had committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a Smith pistol. He was taken to hospital where he remained under intensive care for about eight hours before he died."
2. Cutaway photographer
3. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Tahir Jalil Haboush, Head of Iraqi Intelligence
"As it is known to the friends and enemies of Iraq, they know our history and record on terrorism and they know that Iraq is far away from dealing or supporting terrorism."
4. Close of inside of Nidal's Yemeni passport with picture
5. Close up of Iranian visa inside passport
6. Close up of still photos of Nidal's body at the scene
7. Close up of photos of Nidal's body in hospital
8. Close up of photos of weapons allegedly found in his apartment and eight suitcases said to contain dynamite
9. Close up of two false identity cards bearing Abu Nidal's photo

STORYLINE:

The head of Iraqi intelligence claimed on Wednesday that Palestinian terrorist leader Abu Nidal, had committed suicide.

The head of Iraqi intelligence, Tahir Jalil Haboush, told a Baghdad press conference that Nidal shot himself in the head when Iraqi officials tried to take him into custody for entering the country illegally.

Nidal, whose real name was Sabri al-Banna, was found dead in the Iraqi capital on Friday, his body riddled with bullets.

Mr Haboush showed a press conference photographs of Nidal's body, as well as his passport and false identity cards. He also said that weapons and suitcases filled with dynamite were discovered in Nidal's home.

Abu Nidal - who had targeted Israel, Palestinian Liberation Organisation figures and Arab officials for associating with Israelis - is widely believed to have been living in Baghdad since 1999.

Baghdad's official confirmation of his death came amid claims that Abu Nidal recently held talks with Saudi and Kuwaiti agents and that plans for an American attack on Iraq were found in his Baghdad apartment.

The claims, made on Tuesday by a senior Palestinian official in the West Bank city of Ramallah, were rejected by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

But these reports and the circumstances surrounding Abu Nidal's death - he is said to have suffered several gunshot wounds - fuelled speculation outside Iraq concerning his final days.

According to one news report, Abu Nidal killed himself after Iraqi agents accused him of conspiring with anti-Iraqi forces. Iraqi officials have not commented on Abu Nidal's alleged links to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The radical faction that Abu Nidal formed, the Fatah-Revolutionary Council, killed at least 275 people and wounded hundreds more in dozens of attacks on American airliners, airports, sidewalk cafes and synagogues.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...