Abdulkadir Karakus, the alleged brain behind the bomb attacks al-Qaeda carried out in Istanbul in 2003 and Burhan Kus, who manufactured the bombs were arrested last month in the Iraqi capital Bagdat (Baghdad). The Turkish Ministry of Justice asked the US for the return of Karakus and Kus who had been sent to Abu Ghraib Prison in Baghdad after being arrested and interrogated. Following the attacks, Gurcan Bac, said to be the second in commandof the Turkish branch of the terrorist network died in a suicide attack to at a US military check point in Baghdad. Reportedly, the terrorist organization informed the familes of Karakus and Kus of their arrest.Azad Ekinci, involved in the Istanbul attacks of 15-20 November 2003, was killed in a suicde attack on December 14 2004 in the Iraqi city of Haladiyye. Habip Akdas, another al-Qaida bomber, was killed in Iraq three months ago.