Baghdad - Iraqi security forces captured an aide to al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a raid Thursday in eastern Iraq, a top security official said.

Minister of State for National Security Abdul Karim al-Inazi identified the captive as Fares Kadhim Lafi, a Iraqi who was snared Diyala province.

"He carried out 27 operations including an attack on a minibus that left nine civilians dead," al-Inazi told The Associated Press.

He said security forces had received a tip on Lafi's whereabouts.

It is not uncommon for Iraqi authorities and US military to say they have captured aides to al-Zarqawi without giving further information. - Sapa-AP