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Iraq

Official: Zarqawi narrowly escaped

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi security forces are getting closer to capturing or killing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the terror mastermind in Iraq, and they missed him by "one hour maybe" as recently as two weeks ago, Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib said Thursday.

In a satellite video news conference from Baghdad with reporters at the Pentagon, Naqib said that he is confident Zarqawi eventually will be eliminated and the insurgency brought under Iraqi control.

He also cautioned, however, that insurgent violence is likely to remain a major threat in the short run.

"They think once we finished the election our security forces will relax and things will be much easier for them to (conduct attacks)," he said, alluding to the fact that some of the extraordinary security measures imposed for Sunday's elections are being relaxed this week.

"I expect they are planning for something. We might see some bad days in the next couple of weeks."

Naqib said the effort to capture or kill Zarqawi, whose terror group, al-Qaida in Iraq, is believed responsible for many of the most violent attacks against Iraqis and foreigners there, is highly dependent on intelligence information.

"We are following him, I must say that. I think we missed him twice or three times, but hopefully next time we will be able to capture him," Naqib said. Pressed for more details, the minister said, "We missed him by about one hour maybe" on at least one recent occasion.

"We will get him - very soon, hopefully."

He would not say whether the recent near encounters with Zarqawi involved U.S. or Iraqi forces, or both.

On Monday, Zarqawi's group vowed to continue its attacks despite the election. In a statement published on the Internet, the group said the elections "will increase our strength and intention to get rid of injustice."

Naqib also said the interim Iraqi government believes that Iraqi forces can be in complete control of the country's security within 18 months. The first step, he said, is securing the borders. That will take about 12 more months, he said, followed by emphasis on strengthening Iraqi intelligence organizations, modernizing the police forces and improving passport control.

WASHINGTON - The Army said Thursday it will not withhold any of the payments due Halliburton in a contract providing services to U.S. troops in Iraq and elsewhere.

The Army flip-flopped several times last year on whether it would withhold 15 percent of the payments, which could have cost Vice President Dick Cheney's former company $60-million a month.

The potential withholding was related to billing disputes for work orders in which requirements may change. For instance, the Army may initially need a specified number of contractor trucks and then decide it requires more or fewer vehicles.

[Last modified February 4, 2005, 00:19:15]