Wanted man arrested in Najaf

Diwaniya-Wanted NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: Joint Iraqi forces on Thursday arrested in Najaf a man wanted for killing civilians in Diwaniya, a military source said. “A joint force of police and army personnel waged a security raid in Najaf, where they arrested Ali al-Hadad, a wanted man,” the source told IraqiNews.com. “The operation was based on a tip-off,” he explained. “He is wanted for perpetrating 500 murders against Diwaniya citizens,” he noted. Diwaniya, a Shiite province, lies 180 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. In 2002, the population of Diwaniya was estimated at 420,000. The area around the province, which is well irrigated from the nearby Euphrates River, is often considered to be one of the most fertile parts of Iraq, and is heavily cultivated. The town is located on the main rail transport corridor between Baghdad and Basra. For birdwatchers, Diwaniya is a city with a rich bird list, as it has a wide range of biodiversity. SH (S)/SR 1