Iraqi forces have captured one of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's top bomb-makers in Iraq, the prime minister's spokesman said today.
Mr Sami Mohammed al-Jafi, known as Abu Omar al-Kurdi, is accused of being behind some 32 car bombings since the US-led invasion of Iraq.
Kurdi was arrested on January 15th but his capture was announced now, just a week before Iraq's landmark elections in which Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is running on a list that promises to bring security to Iraqis.
"Kurdi has confessed to some 75 percent of the car bombs that were used for attacks in Baghdad since March 2003 and to making the explosives used in the attack on the Jordanian embassy in August 2003," spokesman Mr Thair al-Naqib said.
"Kurdi also confirmed he was responsible for some of the bloody attacks on the police."
Iraqi forces said they also captured another insurgent earlier this month, Nayef Abbas al-Zubaydi, who heads the Abu Talha group linked to the Jordanian militant Zarqawi in the northern city of Mosul, Naqib said.
In an audio tape posted on the Internet on Sunday, Zarqawi vowed all-out war against the elections and described those planning to participate as "infidel voters".
Insurgents have stepped up attacks intended to derail Iraq's January 30th poll. Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest suicide bombings and hostage beheadings to hit the country.