Syria Stops Palestinian Terrorist Abu Abbas From Escaping Iraq
April 16, 2003

After the fall of Baghdad last week, Palestinian terrorist Abu Abbas tried to escape into Syria, but was turned away at the border by Syrian officials. Palestinian officials tried to intercede with the Syrian government on his behalf and he tried to cross the border a second time, but was again rebuffed by the Syrian government. He also tried unsuccessfully to flee to Iran.

According to wire reports:

Before his capture Monday night, Abbas had tried twice to flee Iraq through Syria but was turned away, Palestinian officials close to the guerrilla leader's organization said Wednesday. They said he also had tried to get into Iran. After the fall of Baghdad last week, Abbas traveled to Mosul and then to the Syrian border but was recognized and turned back by Syrian officials. He returned to the Syrian border several days ago after Palestinian guerrilla factions based in Damascus tried to intercede with the Syrian government on his behalf, but was turned away again. He returned to Baghdad, where he has been living for most of the last 18 years, and was captured the next day, the officials said from south Lebanon, on condition that they not be identified further.

This information appeared in hundreds of media outlets, but was buried near the end of the articles.

Abbas is best known for the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea, during which an elderly American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, was shot to death and dumped overboard in his wheelchair. Abbas was convicted by an Italian court in absentia for plotting the hijacking and sentenced to life in prison.