US officials have long suspected Krekar of having terrorist links. As the former head of guerrilla group Ansar al-Islam, Krekar also is accused of murders back in Iraq, and he has voiced support for Islamic terrorists on Arabic television.
Newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad has reported that the US government tried to spirit Krekar out of Norway three years ago. The newspaper said it had information showing that several CIA agents were in Norway in the summer of 2003, including two wanted in Italy for the kidnapping of Egyptian Abu Omar in Milan.
Aftenbladet reported that the secret CIA plan was to kidnap Krekar as well. Krekar's Norwegian attorney Brynjar Meling told the newspaper Saturday that Krekar feared a kidnapping, and that he'd be sent to the US.
Meling said Krekar avoided being alone and asked for police protection in the spring of 2003.
