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Abu Abbas arrest: Just a hype?

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON APRIL 17. A prize catch in the `war' against terror, or a desperate U.S. propaganda ploy to justify its invasion of Iraq? The hype over the capture of the former Palestinian militant, Abu Abbas, by U.S. forces in Baghdad has raised eyebrows here with experts dismissing American claims that his presence in Iraq proved the Saddam Hussein regime's links with terrorism.

Unnamed British officials have been quoted as saying that they do not regard Abbas' arrest as a "significant breakthrough on the terrorist front''.

He is seen here as a `reformed' militant who renounced violence after he was granted immunity from prosecution by the Israeli Supreme Court following the Oslo peace accords.

It is stated that even Israel ceased to see him as a threat. Even as commentators have called for Abbas to be tried for his role in seizing an Italian cruise ship in 1985, they have poured scorn over American attempts to `trumpet' his arrest as a "war trophy''.

`His presence in Baghdad was hardly a secret, nor does anyone regard him as much of a menace any more. His capture is neither a great coup in the war against terror, nor proof of Mr. Hussein's links with terrorism,'' The Independent said in an editorial describing the U.S. hype as `foolish'.

There is a widely held view here that Abbas, once a dreaded guerilla leader, is now well past his "sell by date'' and — as The Times pointed out-these days he "cuts a pathetic rather than an intimidating figure'' — greying, overweight and down with heart ailment.

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