Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda leader in Iraq, was injured and treated briefly at a hospital in Iraq last week before he disappeared with his followers, a British newspaper reported on Sunday.
The doctor who claims to have treated al-Zarqawi told an Iraqi reporter in the western city of Ramadi that he 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 fighter by photographs he had seen of him on television, the newspaper added.
The doctor’s claim was supported Saturday by a senior Iraqi commander who had been to Ramadi to investigate the report, the newspaper added.
“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.
