WASHINGTON, May 1 (Xinhua)-- U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said Tuesday that he could not confirm Abu Ayyub al-Masri, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, had been killed.

    "The coalition was not involved in this action, whatever it was, in any way, which means I cannot confirm to you that Abu Ayyub al-Masri has actually been killed," Crocker told Washington-based reporters in a video-conference call from Baghdad.

    "Clearly, taking a major terrorist off the battlefield is an important thing and if we can confirm that this did happen, without question it would be a significant and positive development," said Crocker.

    The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq Abu Ayyub al-Masri was reportedly killed in an area north of Baghdad, Iraqi mass media reported Tuesday.

    Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani and Defense Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim, told the media that al-Masri was believed to be killed according to "high reliable intelligence."

    For now, the Iraqi government and the U.S. military are probing media reports on the death of Abu Ayyub al-Masri.