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Iraqi militant arrest unconfirmed Iraq al-Qaeda chief not captured
(about 3 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. The United States military in Iraq says a man detained in the northern city of Mosul is not in fact the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Earlier, a Defence Ministry spokesman said al-Masri had been detained in the northern city of Mosul. An earlier statement from the Iraqi defence ministry said that al-Masri had been captured.
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 an American military spokeswoman, Peggy Kageleiry, said Abu Ayyub al-Masri had not been arrested.
But the Americans say they believe the reports are untrue. She said confusion had arisen because a man with a similar name to the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader had been detained.
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'
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.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.
"We must celebrate this event in our special way, and make the defeated Bush join us in this celebration," he said.