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Iraqi militant arrest unconfirmed | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A spokesman for the US military in Iraq says they are unable to confirm reports that the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested. | |
Earlier, a Defence Ministry spokesman said al-Masri had been detained in the northern city of Mosul. | |
He gave no further details but the Arabic TV station, al-Arabiya, reported that al-Masri had been arrested in a joint Iraqi and American operation. | |
But the Americans say they believe the reports are untrue. | |
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for or has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. | Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for or has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
Members of al-Qaeda are believed to have regrouped in the northern city since the beginning of the US troops "surge" last year. | Members of al-Qaeda are believed to have regrouped in the northern city since the beginning of the US troops "surge" last year. |
'Minister of war' | 'Minister of war' |
Al-Masri is believed to have helped Abu Musab al-Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad. Zarqawi was killed in June 2006. | |
In April 2007, he was named "minister of war" in the 10-man cabinet of the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organisation of Sunni militant groups. | In April 2007, he was named "minister of war" in the 10-man cabinet of the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organisation of Sunni militant groups. |
Shortly afterwards, the Iraqi government claimed al-Masri had been killed in an "internal battle" between militants, but this was quickly denied by the group. | |
In an hour-long audio tape broadcast last month, he purportedly called for renewed attacks on US troops and noted the recent announcement that 4,000 had died in Iraq. | In an hour-long audio tape broadcast last month, he purportedly called for renewed attacks on US troops and noted the recent announcement that 4,000 had died in Iraq. |
"We must celebrate this event in our special way, and make the defeated Bush join us in this celebration," he said. | "We must celebrate this event in our special way, and make the defeated Bush join us in this celebration," he said. |