An undated file photo released by the
U.S. military of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, alias Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, in
Baghdad June 15, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
BAGHDAD, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces
captured Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, head of al-Qaida in Iraq network, in northern
Iraqi city Mosul, Iraqi official television reported on Thursday.
During an operation conducted by the Iraqi security
forces in Mosul, 400 km north of Baghdad, the Iraqi troops captured Abu Hamza
al-Muhajer, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the Iraqi state-run television
quoted Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman as saying.
Al-Muhajer was announced leader of al-Qaida in Iraq on
June 12, 2006. He was a senior aide to former leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who
was killed in a U.S. airstrike on June 7, 2006. Since then, U.S. Pentagon
sources identified him as one of the prime candidates to assume direction of the
Iraqi insurgency.
