Swedish lawyer questions US killing of al-Qaeda number two in Iraq

Stockholm - A Swedish lawyer Thursday said he doubted claims by the US military alleging that they have killed a non-Iraqi individual who was the second-in-command of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

A US military statement on Wednesday said that the body of Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, was positively identified after an October 5 raid in the northern-Iraqi city of Mosul.

Moroccan-born Abu Qaswarah also had Swedish citizenship.

The Swedish Security Service said they had been aware of the 43- year-old, who had been suspected, but never charged, of being active in militant Islamist groups in Sweden.

Abdel-Hay Alami, a lawyer who represented Abu Qaswarah in Sweden, told Swedish breakfast radio that he doubted his former client could have been such a key leader.

He was simply "a religious Muslim" who wanted to live according to his faith, Alami said, adding that his former client had little formal education and worked as a waiter in Sweden, speaking poor Swedish and simple Arabic.

Alami said he had represented Abu Qaswarah when he was questioned over involvement in the commuter train bombings in Madrid in March 2004, but he was released after a brief interview.

Abu Qaswarah was believed to have left Sweden in 2006, the same year he was added to terrorist watch lists by the United Nations and the European Union.

Magnus Ranstorp, a researcher specializing in terrorism at the Swedish National Defence College, said "several intelligence agencies" had eyed Abu Qaswarah, who had also been active in Afghanistan.

Speaking on the same breakfast radio programme, Ranstorp said his sources said Abu Qaswarah had played a key role in organizing logistical support for al-Qaeda in Iraq, and recruiting fighters.

Magnus Paulsson of the Swedish Security Service said Abu Qaswarah's activities had not been considered a threat against Sweden or Swedish interests. (dpa)