BBC: US rejects Masri wounding claim

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Friday, 16 February 2007, 10:57 GMT

US rejects Masri wounding claim

Senior US military sources in Iraq have told the BBC they do not believe
reports that the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been injured in fighting.

Arab TV stations said early on Friday that Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also known
as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, had been hurt during clashes north of Baghdad.

The reports said that the incident had occurred in Balad.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6367405.stm

Associated Press
Al-Qaida in Iraq Agent Now Reported Held
By KIM GAMEL 02.16.07, 7:20 AM ET

An Iraqi army officer said Friday that an al-Qaida in Iraq deputy has been
jailed south of Baghdad, casting doubt on reports that he was killed and
the group's leader was wounded in clashes.

The Interior Ministry spokesman, Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said terror
leader Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was wounded
and an aide killed Thursday in a clash with Iraqi forces near Balad, north
of Baghdad.

Khalaf declined to say how Iraqi forces knew al-Masri had been injured, and
deputy Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali Kamal later said he could not
confirm the information.

An Iraqi army officer said the aide, identified as Abu Abdullah al-Majemaai,
had been detained on Feb. 9 and remained in custody in a jail near Mahmoudiya,
about 20 miles south of Baghdad.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/16/ap3433482.html