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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed' | Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The interior ministry in Iraq says it has received intelligence that the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed. | The interior ministry in Iraq says it has received intelligence that the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed. |
| Abu Ayyub al-Masri, believed to be an Egyptian, has led the group since June 2006 when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a US air strike. | Abu Ayyub al-Masri, believed to be an Egyptian, has led the group since June 2006 when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a US air strike. |
| Al-Qaeda in Iraq is blamed for or has claimed some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since 2003. | Al-Qaeda in Iraq is blamed for or has claimed some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since 2003. |
| According to Iraqi officials, al-Masri was killed in an "internal battle" between militants. | According to Iraqi officials, al-Masri was killed in an "internal battle" between militants. |
| The BBC's defence correspondent Rob Watson says if the reports are confirmed, this would be a highly significant development in terms of the manner of al-Masri's death. | |
| US officials have long talked of friction between al-Qaeda and other Sunni insurgent groups. The reported killing would suggest there are real tensions for US and Iraqi officials to exploit, our correspondent says. | |
| 'Doubly sure' | 'Doubly sure' |
| The clash took place on Tuesday in northern Baghdad, an interior ministry official said on Iraqi television. The official said that he was "100% sure" that al-Masri had been killed. | The clash took place on Tuesday in northern Baghdad, an interior ministry official said on Iraqi television. The official said that he was "100% sure" that al-Masri had been killed. |
| "There were clashes within the groups of al-Qaeda. He was liquidated by them. Our forces had nothing to do with it," said interior ministry spokesman Brig Gen Abdel Karim Khalaf. | "There were clashes within the groups of al-Qaeda. He was liquidated by them. Our forces had nothing to do with it," said interior ministry spokesman Brig Gen Abdel Karim Khalaf. |
| I hope it's true, we're checking, but we're going to be doubly sure before we can confirm anything US military spokesman | |
| However he said that the authorities do not actually have al-Masri's corpse in their possession. | However he said that the authorities do not actually have al-Masri's corpse in their possession. |
| The US military says it has been unable to verify the claim. | The US military says it has been unable to verify the claim. |
| "I hope it's true, we're checking, but we're going to be doubly sure before we can confirm anything," said Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver. | "I hope it's true, we're checking, but we're going to be doubly sure before we can confirm anything," said Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver. |
| He added that several previous reports of al-Masri's death had been unfounded. The United States has a $5 million bounty his head. | He added that several previous reports of al-Masri's death had been unfounded. The United States has a $5 million bounty his head. |
| Al-Masri, who is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, is believed to have trained in Afghanistan and formed al-Qaeda's first cell in Baghdad. | Al-Masri, who is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, is believed to have trained in Afghanistan and formed al-Qaeda's first cell in Baghdad. |
| The group is believed to have been responsible for a string of deadly suicide bombings in Iraq in recent months. | The group is believed to have been responsible for a string of deadly suicide bombings in Iraq in recent months. |
| Even if al-Masri is dead, it would be premature to expect a sudden drop in violence, our correspondent says, al-Qaeda in Iraq has become far more decentralised and therefore less dependent on the leadership of any one individual. | |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |