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Al-Qaeda head in Iraq killed?

Atul Aneja

Infighting in militant camp

DUBAI: The Iraqi Interior Ministry has claimed that the head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed in infighting between rival camps.

The Ministry said Abu Ayyub al-Masri was killed on Monday in an "internal battle" in north Baghdad. "There were clashes within the groups of Al-Qaeda. He [Al-Masri] was liquidated by them. Our forces had nothing to do with it," Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Abdel Karim Khalaf said.

Al-Masri, believed to be an Egyptian, had succeeded Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, who was killed in an American air strike in June 2006. Al-Qaeda has been blamed for some of most heinous sectarian strikes in Iraq.

Complicating factor

The U.S. military command has so far not confirmed Al-Masri's killing. "I hope it's true, we're checking, but we're going to be doubly sure before we can confirm anything," Lieutenant Colonel Chris Garver, the military spokesman, said. He pointed out that there had been previous occasions when reports about Al-Masri's death proved incorrect.

The inability of the Iraqi or American security forces to recover Al-Masri's body has also been a complicating factor. "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," Lt. Col. Garver observed.

Also known as Abu Hamza Al-Mujahir, Al-Masri was allegedly trained in Afghanistan. He is accused of forming Al-Qaeda's first cell in Iraq.

Analysts point out that if the report about the internal feud is true, it would confirm previous assertions that Al-Qaeda in Iraq could be splintering.

Around 104 American troops were killed in April, making it the deadliest month for U.S. troops since December.

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