This is the type of person Emile supports.
Palestine fugitive found in Baghdad
Abu Abbas was convicted in absentia
A wanted Palestinian fugitive, Abu Abbas, has been detained by US forces in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
He led the Palestinian Liberation Front, which hijacked a US cruise ship, the Achille Lauro, in 1985.
During the hijack, an elderly American passenger was killed.
Abu Abbas had been mentioned by US President George W Bush as an example of the kind of figure given refuge by the former regime of Saddam Hussein.
Egypt crisis
The PLF carried out the attack on the Italian liner to demand the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel.
The Achille Lauro was seized while sailing between the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Port Said.
The gunmen shot dead a disabled American tourist, 69 year-old Leon Klinghoffer, whose body was thrown overboard in his wheelchair.
After three days, Egypt gave free passage to the hijackers in exchange for the rest of the hostages.
But the plane carrying the hijackers was intercepted by US Navy jets and forced to land in Italy.
Four men were sentenced to long prison terms, but Abu Abbas escaped and was convicted in absentia.
He received five life sentences for his role in the hijacking.
He has reportedly spent much of the past 17 years in Iraq.
news.bbc.co.uk |
