Al-Qaida's leader in Iraq reported dead

Published on 01/05/2007 13:50

THE LEADER of al-Qaida in Iraq has reportedly been killed in a gun battle between militants.

A spokesman for the Iraqi government said unconfirmed reports suggested Abu Ayyub al-Masri had been killed by Sunni tribesmen north of Baghdad.

Iraqi officials have rushed out similar reports in the past, only to acknowledge later that they were inaccurate. US officials said they could not confirm the report.

Chief Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that word of al-Masri's purported death was based on "intelligence information," adding that "DNA tests should be done and we have to bring someone to identify the body".

But he refused to say whether Iraqi security forces had the body.

Accounts were vague about when and where al-Masri supposedly died.

"We will make an official announcement when we confirm that this person is Abu Ayyub al-Masri," he said.

Al-Masri, believed to be an Egyptian, has led the group since June last year when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a US air strike.