Rewards for Justice

Coalition authorities paid $1 million to an Iraqi source who gave them information leading to the arrest of a major figure in the anti-U.S. insurgency.

Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad was arrested one day after coalition officials received a tip about his whereabouts, coalition spokesman Dan Senor told reporters.

“Today we can announce that less than a month following receipt of that tip, we've approved a payment of $1 million to the Iraqi source,” Senor said. He did not name the source.

Al-Muhammad, a former Ba'ath Party official and militia commander, was number 54 on the U.S. military's list of most wanted figures from Saddam Hussein's regime.

However, U.S. military officials said al-Muhammad was a major figure in the insurgency in Anbar province, which includes the flashpoint cities of Fallujah and Ramadi.

Last year, U.S. officers in Anbar described al-Muhammad as the most wanted fugitive in the province.