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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed' | Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed' |
| (about 3 hours 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. |
| One official said he was "100% sure" that al-Masri had been killed, but another urged caution as the body had not been recovered. | |
| Officials said 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Al-Qaeda in Iraq is blamed for or has claimed some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since 2003. | |
| 'Doubly sure' | 'Doubly sure' |
| Al-Masri was "ambushed by rivals" on Tuesday in northern Baghdad, an interior ministry official said on Iraqi television. | |
| "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 | I hope it's true, we're checking, but we're going to be doubly sure before we can confirm anything US military spokesman |
| He said interior ministry sources had seen the killing. | |
| But Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh cautioned: "This intelligence still has to be checked by giving the body to people who can identify him. | |
| "When we get the body, its DNA must be verified, but the body is still not in the hands of Iraqi forces. There are now attempts by the Iraqi forces to get the body." | |
| 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: |