| Follow-up on yesterday's story. |
The doctor who claims to have treated him told an Iraqi reporter in the western city of Ramadi that Zarqawi was bleeding heavily when he was brought into the hospital on Wednesday, the Sunday Times reported. The doctor was able to recognize the Jordanian-born militant linked to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network by photographs he had seen of him on television, the newspaper said.
The doctor's claim was supported Saturday by a senior Iraqi commander who had been to Ramadi to investigate the report, the newspaper added. The doctor, who refused to specify the nature of the wounds and asked not to be identified, was detained by the Americans on Friday for questioning, residents were quoted as saying.
"He was bleeding heavily and his escorts were well dressed with a look about them that was different from the casualties and family members we had been receiving," the doctor was quoted as saying. "I treated his injury and asked that he remain in hospital for further observations and told him that we would have to register him and take down his name and details," he was quoted as saying.
"But he became very nervous and agitated. He refused and told me he would not be staying," he reportedly added.
| "And we asked to see his insurance card. That really set him off," the doctor added. |
The newspaper said US officials had offered no details as to why they believe Zarqawi might be wounded or ill.