Senior al Qaeda figure killed in Iraq:US

16/10/2008 14:14:21

The American military in Iraq says its troops have killed al Qaeda's second in command in the country.

Our Middle East correspondent, Ben Knight, reports a US army statement describes Abu Qaswarah as a charismatic leader, who was behind the recruiting of foreign terrorists, and smuggling them into northern Iraq.

It says he was killed just over a week ago in a raid in the city of Mosul.

Four other insurgents were also reported to have been killed, on what the US army describes as a command centre for al Qaeda in the region.

Mosul is regarded as the group's last stronghold in Iraq.

In the past week, thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled the city after attacks blamed on al Qaeda militatnts.

Produced by Radio Australia and Australia Network