Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 22 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 June 2003. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 June 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many arrests have been made in Iraq of suspected al Qaeda (a) operatives and (b) sympathisers since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many arrests have been made in Iraq of suspected al-Qaeda (a) operatives and (b) sympathisers since the fall of Saddam Hussein. [116401] Mr. Ingram: I am unaware of any evidence to suggest that persons detained by the United Kingdom Armed Forces in Iraq have taken part in al-Qaeda operations, or that they have directly assisted or supported such operations. Whether our coalition partners have such evidence in respect of persons they have detained is a matter for them.

Secondary information