Reports: Leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq killed
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{{date|May 1, 2007}}
{{Al-Qaeda}}
{{missing image|File:Abu Ayyub al-Masri 1.jpg|left|160px|thumb|Abu Ayyub al-Masri.}}
Reports say that [[w:Abu Ayyub al-Masri|Abu Ayyub al-Masri]], the leader of [[w:Al-Qaeda in Iraq|al-Qaeda in Iraq]] has been killed by [[w:Sunni|Sunni]] tribesmen in an area just north of [[w:Baghdad|Baghdad]] called [[w:Taji, Iraq|Taji]] during a battle between tribesmen and [[al-Qaeda]] militants. Other reports say that he was killed in al-Nibayi, near a bridge where fighting was taking place.

"Preliminary reports said he was killed yesterday in Taji area in a battle involving a couple of insurgent groups, possibly some tribal people who have problems with al-Qaeda. We too have security and intelligence reports that Abu Ayyub al-Masri was killed as a result of fighting between insurgents and al Qaeda yesterday near Taji. These reports have to be confirmed," said Barham Sale, [[Iraq]]'s Deputy Prime Minister.

However; despite the reports, the [[w:Islamic State of Iraq|Islamic State of Iraq]] denied that al-Masri was dead posting a message on a militant website saying, "The Islamic State of Iraq reassures the Ummah on the safety of Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, may God protect him, and that he is still fighting the enemies of God."

According to Ali al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokeman, [[w:DNA|DNA]] tests will be performed on the alleged remains.

"We will make an official announcement when we confirm that this person is Abu Ayyub al-Masri. DNA tests should be done and we have to bring someone to identify the body. The Iraqi government will work to identify him," said al-Dabbagh.

However; the [[United States]] military has not yet confirmed the reports.

"We are in discussions with the Iraqis over how they obtained this intelligence. If we do have a body, we are going to conduct DNA tests, and that will take several days. If there is no body, that makes it harder. Obviously I hope it's true. We want to be very careful before we confirm or deny anything like that," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq.

Iraqi and U.S. military forces were not involved in the battle.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6610873.stm
|title=Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed'
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=May 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-05-01T115716Z_01_IBO131419_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-COL.XML
|title=Al Qaeda in Iraq leader killed: Interior Ministry
|author=Mussab Al-Khairalla
|pub=Reuters
|date=May 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aWRXvG9HrRog&refer=home
|title=Al-Qaeda's Iraq Head Killed in Clashes, Ministry Says
|author=Robin Stringer
|pub=Bloomberg
|date=May 1, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=5f8aaf6a-dc68-4dcd-9113-6d92763b60ad&k=66384
|title=Iraq probes reports of al-Masri's death
|author=Associated Press
|pub=Canada.com
|date=May 1, 2007}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Sunni Islam]]
[[Category:Islamic State]]

[[it:Ucciso Al Masri, capo di Al Qaida in Iraq]]


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Reports say that Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed by Sunni tribesmen in an area just north of Baghdad called Taji during a battle between tribesmen and al-Qaeda militants. Other reports say that he was killed in al-Nibayi, near a bridge where fighting was taking place.

"Preliminary reports said he was killed yesterday in Taji area in a battle involving a couple of insurgent groups, possibly some tribal people who have problems with al-Qaeda. We too have security and intelligence reports that Abu Ayyub al-Masri was killed as a result of fighting between insurgents and al Qaeda yesterday near Taji. These reports have to be confirmed," said Barham Sale, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister.

However; despite the reports, the Islamic State of Iraq denied that al-Masri was dead posting a message on a militant website saying, "The Islamic State of Iraq reassures the Ummah on the safety of Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, may God protect him, and that he is still fighting the enemies of God."

According to Ali al-Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokeman, DNA tests will be performed on the alleged remains.

"We will make an official announcement when we confirm that this person is Abu Ayyub al-Masri. DNA tests should be done and we have to bring someone to identify the body. The Iraqi government will work to identify him," said al-Dabbagh.

However; the United States military has not yet confirmed the reports.

"We are in discussions with the Iraqis over how they obtained this intelligence. If we do have a body, we are going to conduct DNA tests, and that will take several days. If there is no body, that makes it harder. Obviously I hope it's true. We want to be very careful before we confirm or deny anything like that," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq.

Iraqi and U.S. military forces were not involved in the battle.

it:Ucciso Al Masri, capo di Al Qaida in Iraq
Politics and conflicts Middle East Iraq Sunni Islam Islamic State