Iraqi Army: Al Qaeda In Iraq Leader Nabbed

Abu Ayyub Al-Masri Arrested In Mosul, Iraqi Defense Ministry Says

(CBS/AP)  The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested in the northern city of Mosul, the Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

Spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said the arrest of al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was confirmed to him by the Iraqi commander of the province. There was no immediate confirmation or comment from U.S. forces on the arrest.

The U.S. military in Baghdad says it is aware of the reported arrest, but has no "operational reports" and is looking into it, reports CBS News correspondent Cami McCormick.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said that Mosul police "arrested one of al Qaeda's leaders at midnight and during the primary investigations he admitted that he is Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir."

News of the arrest was also reported by Iraqi state television and Arab satellite TV stations.

The state channel, Iraqiya, said that Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bolani would reward Mosul police for the capture.

If confirmed, the arrest would represent a major blow to al Qaeda in Iraq, which has been on the run for the past year following a shift in alliances by Sunni tribesmen in western Anbar province, and elsewhere, and an influx of thousands of U.S. troops.

The U.S. military considers the organization its number one enemy in Iraq.

"The commander of Ninevah military operations informed me that Iraqi troops captured Abu Hamza al-Muhajir the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq," al-Askari told The Associated Press by telephone.

He did not have any further details nor did he say when the al Qaeda leader was arrested. According to unconfirmed reports he was caught Thursday evening in the Tayran area in central Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad.

Mosul is currently a major battleground for U.S. forces and al Qaeda.

Al-Masri, an Egyptian militant, took over al Qaeda in Iraq after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed June 7, 2006 in a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad.

The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organization that includes al Qaeda in Iraq, last year announced an "Islamic Cabinet" for Iraq and named al-Masri as "minister of war."

U.S. officials said al-Masri joined an extremist group led by al Qaeda's No.2 official in 1982. He joined al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan in 1999 and trained as a car bombing expert before traveling to Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

According to associates in Afghanistan, al-Masri has been involved in Islamic extremist movements since 1982, when he joined Islamic Jihad, a terror group led by Ayman al-Zawahri, who became bin Laden's chief deputy.

Al-Masri fought with Muslim rebels against the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s and later ran al Qaeda training camps there.


In other developments:

A committee of Shiite politicians on Thursday sought ways to disarm extremists in Baghdad's Sadr City in an effort to stop intense fighting in the slum, even as the U.S. military predicted that an operation to wall off part of the district would be completed within two weeks.

A Kuwaiti who had been imprisoned in Guantanamo for more than 3 1/2 years carried out a recent suicide attack in Iraq, the U.S. military said Wednesday. Abdullah Saleh al-Ajmi took part in one of three suicide bomb attacks last month in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Scott Rye, a military spokesman.




© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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by lovegetpeace May 11, 2008 9:42 PM EDT

Folks,
The Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri is alive and leading. Read the other cbsnews story after this one. Another usually lie from president Bush.

Reply to this comment

by bobnjersey May 9, 2008 10:07 PM EDT

[Sure bob, I see it''''s perfectly sane to hijack American planes and fly them into buildings killing 3,000 innocent Americans like they did on 9-11-01. Your problem is bob you REFUSE to pick a side.
That''''s moral relativism in a nutshell. Not being able to recognize Absolute Right vs Absolute Wrong or Absolute Good vs Absolute Evil.]
[Posted by cbsjerks2008 at 12:43 PM : May 09, 2008]

it has nothing to do with moral relativism ... or whatever other talking point you want to lay out there.

it has to do w/ where you stand ... and you have no ability to see that. having the ability to see that has nothing to do w/ being for or against it ... but it''s clear you don''t see that either.

i would suppose that you never stop for a second to ask yourself why they are doing these things ... is it just because they have nothing else better to do? they clearly must feel pretty strongly about their perspective to be sacrificing their lives for it.

was it absolute right or absolute wrong when the church tortured and murdered people for what they deemed heresy in the middle ages? claiming the earth was not immutable and the center of the universe. this was the absolute right then, wasn''t it.

how absolute was that absolute right ... and who says so? where were they standing?

put down the talking points and read some history ... so you can understand perspective.

Reply to this comment

by dmgenet May 9, 2008 8:10 PM EDT

Great, another terrorist leader out of the way...this is like hitting the gopher on the head game. As long as you pay to stand there and bonk the gopher on the head those heads will continue to pop up in different places. It means nothing. Once Al Qaeda is gone the civil war will get worse and we will need to watch out for our backs. Terrorists win again. Brilliant Bush. The only man who thinks taking out the strongest building block in a *** will help repair it.

Reply to this comment

by bobnjersey May 9, 2008 12:58 PM EDT

[This warped moral equivalence of placing the United States of America (the good guys!) on the same level as Muslim terrorism throughout the globe is sick, and just down right dispicable and wrong.]
[Posted by cbsjerks2008 at 06:09 AM : May 09, 2008]

it''s really only a question of perspective. i''m sure those fighting for the islamic cause think about their efforts the same way as you think of ours.

you can''t see that?

Reply to this comment

by fibonacci_ May 9, 2008 5:57 AM EDT

That guy is so yesterdays news.

Reply to this comment

by tawpdawg11 May 9, 2008 3:37 AM EDT

John McCain will win in November by a 60% to 40% margin. Count on it.

Posted by CalVet2 at 11:58 PM : May 08, 2008

Thats why all those new Democratic voters have registered. They are so thrilled with how hunky-dory everything is that they are going to vote McBush in November!

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 9, 2008 3:04 AM EDT

ST,,,, Good night patriot, keep it up.

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 9, 2008 3:01 AM EDT

CalVet2,,, 2 important things to remember --- McCain couldn''t win the 1st time he ran for President & he''s just another Bush

Reply to this comment

by ghostdog8 May 9, 2008 2:58 AM EDT

John McCain will win in November by a 60% to 40% margin. Count on it.

Reply to this comment

by veteran72 May 9, 2008 2:53 AM EDT

I can''''''''t wait for election day and the day after because when McCain wins, the crying, sobbing and slinging of excuses is going to be very entertaining! I have to remember to get some popcorn and soda for the event!

Yea, it was hard to keep from laughing my azz off after Nov ''06.....LMMFAO....

November ''08: Armageddon for the GOPerv Party of Wide-Stancers and Toe-Tapping War Profiteers..ROLMMFAO.....

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 9, 2008 2:50 AM EDT

LeFeaoux,,,, And if McCain loses as 70% of America believes, what will you do ??? Get on your space ship for the Rupture ???? ---- Might as well say Bye Bye to you & your ilk right now. --

-- The last thing this country needs is "More of the Same Failures" with a Bush 3

Reply to this comment

by veteran72 May 9, 2008 2:50 AM EDT

I can''''t wait for election day and the day after because when McCain wins, the crying, sobbing and slinging of excuses is going to be very entertaining! I have to remember to get some popcorn and soda for the event!

Yea, it was hard to keep from laughing my azz off after Nov ''07.....LMMFAO....

November ''08: Armageddon for the GOPerv Party of Wide-Stancers and Toe-Tapping War Profiteers..ROLMMFAO.....

Reply to this comment

by lefeaoux May 9, 2008 2:48 AM EDT

j-whitman is bitter for being unemployed for so long.

Posted by tracy0morgan at 11:47 PM : May 08, 2008

ROFLMAO! You KNOW that is REALLY ticking him off! He is avoiding that post like the plague!

Reply to this comment

by lefeaoux May 9, 2008 2:46 AM EDT

I can''t wait for election day and the day after because when McCain wins, the crying, sobbing and slinging of excuses is going to be very entertaining! I have to remember to get some popcorn and soda for the event!

Reply to this comment

by veteran72 May 9, 2008 2:46 AM EDT

--------

Posted by tracy0morgan at 11:41 PM : May 08, 2008
+ report abuse
Shrub: Lying AWOL/Deserter and Coward
Darth: 5-Deferrment Fatazzed Coward & War Profiteer

Neocon/GOPerv Heroes....LMMFAO....

Rush Limpdickkk: Deferred for Anal Cyst.....LMMFAO...

Hannity, OLIElly, never served.....LMMFAO.....

Kindasleezy, Gonzo, never served...LMMFAO...

Draft Dodgers and Crack-Headed Drunks.....LMMFAO

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 9, 2008 2:46 AM EDT

tracy0morgan--- Here''s a news flash ------ 90% of our military realize they''ve all been victemized by your GOP & faviorate contractors.

Reply to this comment

by veteran72 May 9, 2008 2:44 AM EDT

veteran72, thanks for keeping that out there.

90% of military is voting McCain, and there is absolutely nothing libs can post here that will change that.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tracy0morgan at 11:41 PM : May 08, 2008
+ report abuse
Shrub: Lying AWOL/Deserter and Coward
Darth: 5-Deferrment Fatazzed Coward & War Profiteer

Neocon/GOPerv Heroes....LMMFAO....

Rush Limpdickkk: Deferred for Anal Cyst.....LMMFAO...

Hannity, OLIElly, never served.....LMMFAO.....

Kindasleezy, Gonzo, never served...LMMFAO...

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 9, 2008 2:44 AM EDT

tracy0morgan,,,, Wanna buy Lake Tahoe cheap ??? I''ll throw in the Bay Bridge and give you an autographed picture of the Wizzard of Oz himself.

Reply to this comment

by brianbwb-2009 May 9, 2008 2:43 AM EDT

So now that the so called leader of "Al Qaeda in Iraq" has been captured, there are now no reasons to still occupy Iraq, so Bushit can now bring the troops home. Any further delay is tantamount to compounding his many war crimes, crimes against humanity, and treason.

Reply to this comment

by veteran72 May 9, 2008 2:42 AM EDT

Shrub: Lying AWOL/Deserter and Coward
Darth: 5-Deferrment Fatazzed Coward & War Profiteer

Neocon/GOPerv Heroes....LMMFAO....

Rush Limpdickkk: Deferred for Anal Cyst.....LMMFAO...

Hannity, OLIElly, never served.....LMMFAO.....

Reply to this comment

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[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
The Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri is alive and leading. Read the other cbsnews story after this one. Another usually lie from president Bush.

[bobnjersey]

[Sure bob, I see it''''s perfectly sane to hijack American planes and fly them into buildings killing 3,000 innocent Americans like they did on 9-11-01. Your problem is bob you REFUSE to pick a side.
That''''s moral relativism in a nutshell. Not being able to recognize Absolute Right vs Absolute Wrong or Absolute Good vs Absolute Evil.]
[Posted by cbsjerks2008 at 12:43 PM : May 09, 2008]

it has nothing to do with moral relativism ... or whatever other talking point you want to lay out there.

it has to do w/ where you stand ... and you have no ability to see that. having the ability to see that has nothing to do w/ being for or against it ... but it''s clear you don''t see that either.

i would suppose that you never stop for a second to ask yourself why they are doing these things ... is it just because they have nothing else better to do? they clearly must feel pretty strongly about their perspective to be sacrificing their lives for it.

was it absolute right or absolute wrong when the church tortured and murdered people for what they deemed heresy in the middle ages? claiming the earth was not immutable and the center of the universe. this was the absolute right then, wasn''t it.

how absolute was that absolute right ... and who says so? where were they standing?

put down the talking points and read some history ... so you can understand perspective.

[dmgenet]

Great, another terrorist leader out of the way...this is like hitting the gopher on the head game. As long as you pay to stand there and bonk the gopher on the head those heads will continue to pop up in different places. It means nothing. Once Al Qaeda is gone the civil war will get worse and we will need to watch out for our backs. Terrorists win again. Brilliant Bush. The only man who thinks taking out the strongest building block in a *** will help repair it.

[bobnjersey]

[This warped moral equivalence of placing the United States of America (the good guys!) on the same level as Muslim terrorism throughout the globe is sick, and just down right dispicable and wrong.]
[Posted by cbsjerks2008 at 06:09 AM : May 09, 2008]

it''s really only a question of perspective. i''m sure those fighting for the islamic cause think about their efforts the same way as you think of ours.

you can''t see that?

[fibonacci_]

That guy is so yesterdays news.

[tawpdawg11]

John McCain will win in November by a 60% to 40% margin. Count on it.

Posted by CalVet2 at 11:58 PM : May 08, 2008

Thats why all those new Democratic voters have registered. They are so thrilled with how hunky-dory everything is that they are going to vote McBush in November!

[j-whitman]

ST,,,, Good night patriot, keep it up.

[j-whitman]

CalVet2,,, 2 important things to remember --- McCain couldn''t win the 1st time he ran for President & he''s just another Bush

[ghostdog8]

John McCain will win in November by a 60% to 40% margin. Count on it.

[veteran72]

I can''''''''t wait for election day and the day after because when McCain wins, the crying, sobbing and slinging of excuses is going to be very entertaining! I have to remember to get some popcorn and soda for the event!

Yea, it was hard to keep from laughing my azz off after Nov ''06.....LMMFAO....

November ''08: Armageddon for the GOPerv Party of Wide-Stancers and Toe-Tapping War Profiteers..ROLMMFAO.....

[j-whitman]

LeFeaoux,,,, And if McCain loses as 70% of America believes, what will you do ??? Get on your space ship for the Rupture ???? ---- Might as well say Bye Bye to you & your ilk right now. --

-- The last thing this country needs is "More of the Same Failures" with a Bush 3

[veteran72]

I can''''t wait for election day and the day after because when McCain wins, the crying, sobbing and slinging of excuses is going to be very entertaining! I have to remember to get some popcorn and soda for the event!

Yea, it was hard to keep from laughing my azz off after Nov ''07.....LMMFAO....

November ''08: Armageddon for the GOPerv Party of Wide-Stancers and Toe-Tapping War Profiteers..ROLMMFAO.....

[lefeaoux]

j-whitman is bitter for being unemployed for so long.

Posted by tracy0morgan at 11:47 PM : May 08, 2008

ROFLMAO! You KNOW that is REALLY ticking him off! He is avoiding that post like the plague!

[lefeaoux]

I can''t wait for election day and the day after because when McCain wins, the crying, sobbing and slinging of excuses is going to be very entertaining! I have to remember to get some popcorn and soda for the event!

[veteran72]

--------

Posted by tracy0morgan at 11:41 PM : May 08, 2008
+ report abuse
Shrub: Lying AWOL/Deserter and Coward
Darth: 5-Deferrment Fatazzed Coward & War Profiteer

Neocon/GOPerv Heroes....LMMFAO....

Rush Limpdickkk: Deferred for Anal Cyst.....LMMFAO...

Hannity, OLIElly, never served.....LMMFAO.....

Kindasleezy, Gonzo, never served...LMMFAO...

Draft Dodgers and Crack-Headed Drunks.....LMMFAO

[j-whitman]

tracy0morgan--- Here''s a news flash ------ 90% of our military realize they''ve all been victemized by your GOP & faviorate contractors.

[veteran72]

veteran72, thanks for keeping that out there.

90% of military is voting McCain, and there is absolutely nothing libs can post here that will change that.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by tracy0morgan at 11:41 PM : May 08, 2008
+ report abuse
Shrub: Lying AWOL/Deserter and Coward
Darth: 5-Deferrment Fatazzed Coward & War Profiteer

Neocon/GOPerv Heroes....LMMFAO....

Rush Limpdickkk: Deferred for Anal Cyst.....LMMFAO...

Hannity, OLIElly, never served.....LMMFAO.....

Kindasleezy, Gonzo, never served...LMMFAO...

[j-whitman]

tracy0morgan,,,, Wanna buy Lake Tahoe cheap ??? I''ll throw in the Bay Bridge and give you an autographed picture of the Wizzard of Oz himself.

[brianbwb-2009]

So now that the so called leader of "Al Qaeda in Iraq" has been captured, there are now no reasons to still occupy Iraq, so Bushit can now bring the troops home. Any further delay is tantamount to compounding his many war crimes, crimes against humanity, and treason.

[veteran72]

Shrub: Lying AWOL/Deserter and Coward
Darth: 5-Deferrment Fatazzed Coward & War Profiteer

Neocon/GOPerv Heroes....LMMFAO....

Rush Limpdickkk: Deferred for Anal Cyst.....LMMFAO...

Hannity, OLIElly, never served.....LMMFAO.....