"one of al Qaeda's top leaders in Yemen", and called al-Awfi "the group's field commander." According to other news services. al-Shihri had been identified as second in command of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, and no one had stated al-Awfi's position in the organization. Al Awfi is reported to have contacted the leaders of the rehabilitation program prior to his surrender. He is reported to be scheduled to return to the rehabilitation program. According to the Middle East Online Saudi security officials assert Al Harbi has informed them that Iran is sponsoring al Qaeda. Listed as a former captive who "re-engaged in terrorism" On May 27, 2009, the Defense Intelligence Agency published a "fact sheet" listing captives who "re-engaged in terrorism". The fact sheet listed al Awfi and Al Shihri. BBC Interview Peter Taylor interviewed Al Harbi, who he called "Mohammed al-Awfi", for the BBC News. Mohammed al-Awfi told him that his interrogations in Bagram involved brutal abuse to his genitals. He attributed his escape to join the jihadists because the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Americans was more powerful than the arguments offered in the Care rehabilitation program. He said that once he was in Yemen, with the jihadists: Taylor reported being skeptical of Mohammed al-Awfi's account of his escape to Yemen and his subsequent defection. References External links Former al-Qaeda member alleges US abuse in Afghanistan video from the BBC January 13, 2010 Innocents and Foot Soldiers: The Stories of the 14 Saudis Just Released From Guantánamo Andy Worthington Living people 1973 births People from Riyadh Guantanamo detainees known to have been released Named on Saudi Arabia's list of most wanted suspected terrorists