BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraqi interim government said on Thursday that the US-led forces have arrested a senior member of the al Qaida-linked network led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a raid in Baghdad.

   According to a government statement, Fadil Hussein Ahmed al-Kurdi, 26, also known as Abu Ubaida al-Kurdi or simply Ridha, and two other suspects were arrested in the raid conducted by the US-led forces.

   "Ridha was responsible for facilitating communications between al-Qaida and the Zarqawi terror network as well as coordinating the movement of terrorists in and out of Iraq," said the statement.

   Ridha is the brother of Omar Baziyani, Zarqawi's aide, who was captured in May by the US-led forces, added the statement. "Both Ridha and Baziyani are now in detention and are being questioned by Iraqi and coalition forces."

   On Wednesday, the government announced the capture of Abu Marwan, a "key leader" of the Zarqawi group in the northern city of Mosul on Dec. 23. 

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