Suspected Iraqi mastermind in DHL attack dies in US custody

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The chief suspect in the striking of a DHL air carrier here last month died in US custody after soldiers wounded him in a firefight, US Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told reporters.

Kimmitt also said troops had arrested 101 suspected combatants in 29 raids and 40 offensive operations over the last 24 hours.

"Ziad Sahid, a former director of military intelligence ... suspected of responsibility for attacks on coalition forces to include the downing of the DHL jetliner, died in a coalition medical facility of wounds received during a targeted raid on his complex," Kimmitt said.

Sahid died Saturday, he said. But it was not clear when troops raided his house in the course of its week-old Operation Iron Grip, a mission combining heavy weapons fire on suspected rebel positions and sweeps for top suspects around Baghdad.

A DHL airliner was hit by a surface-to-air missile in late November, prompting the cancellation of civilian flights to Iraq (news - web sites), although the German-owned international courier has since resumed services.

Thirteen insurgents were rounded up in Operation Iron Grip on Monday, Kimmitt said.

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