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Top Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders killed Top Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders killed
(40 minutes later)
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US officials say two leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq have been killed in a joint Iraqi-US operation.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US officials say two leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq have been killed in a joint Iraqi-US operation.
Mr Maliki said on national TV that the Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who led an affiliate group, were dead.Mr Maliki said on national TV that the Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who led an affiliate group, were dead.
The US military later confirmed the two had been killed by Iraqi forces. The US said it was "the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency".
Mr Maliki said both had been killed in Thar-Thar, Salaheddin province, west of Baghdad, by Iraqi agents with US help. Mr Maliki said both had been killed in Salaheddin province, west of Baghdad.
Iraqi TV showed pictures of both men before and after their deaths.Iraqi TV showed pictures of both men before and after their deaths.
"The attack was carried out by ground forces which surrounded the house, and also through the use of missiles," Mr Maliki said."The attack was carried out by ground forces which surrounded the house, and also through the use of missiles," Mr Maliki said.
He said the house had been destroyed and the two bodies were found inside, in a hole in the ground in which they had been hiding. He said the house in Thar-Thar had been destroyed and the two bodies were found inside, in a hole in the ground in which they had been hiding.
In a statement, US Forces-Iraq Commander Gen Raymond T Odierno said: "The death of these terrorists is potentially the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency."In a statement, US Forces-Iraq Commander Gen Raymond T Odierno said: "The death of these terrorists is potentially the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency."
A US statement said Iraqi Forces with US support had mounted a night-time raid on the al-Qaeda leaders' safe-house. A US statement said Iraqi forces with US support had mounted a night-time raid on the al-Qaeda leaders' safe-house.
It said the men were killed "after engaging the security team" and that Masri's assistant along with the son of al-Baghdadi were also killed.It said the men were killed "after engaging the security team" and that Masri's assistant along with the son of al-Baghdadi were also killed.
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.
Umbrella groupUmbrella group
Abu Ayyub al-Masri is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. Abu Ayyub al-Masri was 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. Masri was purported to have formed al-Qaeda's first cell in Baghdad
He was 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.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 previously cast doubt on whether he even existed. Al-Baghdadi was a nom de guerre for its shadowy leader, although some US commanders had previously cast doubt on whether he even existed. Iraqi officials said his real name was Ahmad Abid Ahmad Khamis al-Majmai and US officials also named him as Hamid Dawud Muhammad Khalil al Zawi.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003.Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that despite the optimism, the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2006 did little to slow the insurgency.The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that despite the optimism, the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2006 did little to slow the insurgency.
The militants' fortunes in Iraq are at a low ebb, he says, and the deaths of its leaders are no doubt a factor in that, but there are many other elements involved too.The militants' fortunes in Iraq are at a low ebb, he says, and the deaths of its leaders are no doubt a factor in that, but there are many other elements involved too.
Mr Maliki is currently contesting the results of the 7 March election which was narrowly won by former prime minister Iyad Allawi.Mr Maliki is currently contesting the results of the 7 March election which was narrowly won by former prime minister Iyad Allawi.
Election officials have ordered a manual recount of votes cast in Baghdad after complaints from Mr Maliki that the electronic system of counting was unreliable.Election officials have ordered a manual recount of votes cast in Baghdad after complaints from Mr Maliki that the electronic system of counting was unreliable.
The recount could alter the final result of the poll.The recount could alter the final result of the poll.