The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested, according to media reports quoting the country’s defence ministry.
Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was detained in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the reports said.
There has so far been been no official US or Iraqi confirmation.
The Egyptian-born militant took over the leadership of the group from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shortly after he was killed in a US air strike in June 2006.
Masri is believed to have helped Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad following the US-led invasion in 2004.
After becoming leader, he vowed to “continue what Sheikh Abu Musab began” and avenge his death with attacks that would “turn your children’s hair white”.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
