"Security experts say he became a terrorist in 1982 when he joined Ayman al-Zawahiri's Egyptian Islamic Jihad. He probably entered Iraq in 2002, before al-Zarqawi, and may have helped establish the first al-Qaida cell in the Baghdad area."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2069653,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1
Linked from http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/05/rumors-spread-that-al-qaeda-in-iraq.html
And gateway pundit says:
"Iraqi officials have received reports that the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was killed by Sunni tribesmen, but the chief government spokesman said Tuesday the information has not been confirmed. "
And gateway pundit linked from http://www.transterrestrial.com/

So remember kiddies that 2002 is a time before 2003 march when we invaded Iraq- just in case you are still in doubt of connections of Saddam and al-Qaida