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Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders 'killed' | Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders 'killed' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki says an intelligence team has killed the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki says an intelligence team has killed the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. |
Mr Maliki said Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, believed to lead al-Qaeda's local affiliate, the Islamic State in Iraq, had also been killed. | |
There is no confirmation of the reports and no comment from the US military. | There is no confirmation of the reports and no comment from the US military. |
Previous official reports that both militants had been captured have turned out to be untrue. | Previous official reports that both militants had been captured have turned out to be untrue. |
Speaking on national television, Mr Maliki said both men had been killed in Salaheddin province by Iraqi agents who had US assistance. | Speaking on national television, Mr Maliki said both men had been killed in Salaheddin province by Iraqi agents who had US assistance. |
Iraqi TV showed pictures of both men before and allegedly after their deaths. | Iraqi TV showed pictures of both men before and allegedly after their deaths. |
Abu Ayyub al-Masri is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. | Abu Ayyub al-Masri is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. |
He is believed to have helped Abu Musab al-Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad. Zarqawi was killed in June 2006. | He is believed to have helped Abu Musab al-Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad. Zarqawi was killed in June 2006. |
The Islamic State in Iraq is an umbrella organisation that includes several radical Sunni militant groups. | |
Al-Baghdadi is a nom de guerre for its shadowy leader, although some US commanders have cast doubt on whether he even exists. | |
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003. |