IRAQ: SENIOR AL-QAEDA LEADER SLAIN
Baghdad, 14 Sept. (AKI) - A leading figure in al-Qaeda in Iraq - possibly the group's number two - has been killed by security forces, the Iraqi interior ministry said Thursday. It identified the slain man as Abu Jaafar al-Liby, saying he was right hand man to the terror group's new leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri. Director of operations Brigadier Abdul-Karim Khalaf said Iraqi forces had killed Liby along with four militants several days ago, and captured two others alive.
Eleven days ago, the authorities announced the arrest of man they called al-Qaeda's second-in-command in Iraq - identifying him as Hamed Juma Faris al Suaidi and linking him to the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra in February. No details were given of where he was arrested.
According to Khalaf, al-Liby headed up al-Qaeda's operations in al-Rasafa and al-Karrada neighbourhoods of Baghdad, and in the province of Diyala.
He said that two letters were found with the body - one for Osama bin Laden and the other for Abu Ayub al-Masri.
The second man - an associate of the group's new leader - was captured on Tuesday, Major-General William Caldwell, a US military spokesman, said.
"As part of these operations on Tuesday evening alone there was a series of 25 raids in and around Baghdad targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq activities. A key outcome of these raids was the capture of over 70 suspected terrorists, one of which was the personal associate of Abu Ayub al-Masri," Caldwell said.
The unnamed suspect took part directly in various terrorist acts, including kidnappings and executions, Caldwell said.
Eleven days ago, the authorities announced the arrest of man they called al-Qaeda's second-in-command in Iraq - identifying him as Hamed Juma Faris al Suaidi and linking him to the bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra in February. No details were given of where he was arrested.
According to Khalaf, al-Liby headed up al-Qaeda's operations in al-Rasafa and al-Karrada neighbourhoods of Baghdad, and in the province of Diyala.
He said that two letters were found with the body - one for Osama bin Laden and the other for Abu Ayub al-Masri.
The second man - an associate of the group's new leader - was captured on Tuesday, Major-General William Caldwell, a US military spokesman, said.
"As part of these operations on Tuesday evening alone there was a series of 25 raids in and around Baghdad targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq activities. A key outcome of these raids was the capture of over 70 suspected terrorists, one of which was the personal associate of Abu Ayub al-Masri," Caldwell said.
The unnamed suspect took part directly in various terrorist acts, including kidnappings and executions, Caldwell said.
posted by Marko at 9/14/2006 11:44:00 PM
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