U.S. military officials say they have captured the most senior Iraqi member of al-Qaida in Iraq.
Brigadier General Kevin Bergner said on Wednesday that U.S. forces captured Khaled al-Mashhadani two weeks ago. Mashhadani is believed to work closely with the Egyptian-born Abu Ayub al-Masri - the head of al-Qaida in Iraq. Bergner said al-Mashhadani also served as an intermediary between al-Masri and Osama bin Laden.
The U.S. military spokesman said al-Mashhadani told interrogators that al-Qaida in Iraq is run by a foreign group under al-Masri's leadership. He said that in order to mask the foreign influence, al-Mashhadani and al-Masri created a fictitious entity known as the Islamic State of Iraq. The made-up leader of the insurgent organization, a man called Omar al-Baghdadi, was played by an actor for propaganda recordings.
In other news Wednesday, Iraqi officials say a pair of roadside bombs killed at least six people and wounded seven others in east Baghdad.
The U.S. military said two roadside bombs killed three American soldiers and wounded four others in Baghdad Tuesday.
Brigadier General Kevin Bergner said on Wednesday that U.S. forces captured Khaled al-Mashhadani two weeks ago. Mashhadani is believed to work closely with the Egyptian-born Abu Ayub al-Masri - the head of al-Qaida in Iraq. Bergner said al-Mashhadani also served as an intermediary between al-Masri and Osama bin Laden.
The U.S. military spokesman said al-Mashhadani told interrogators that al-Qaida in Iraq is run by a foreign group under al-Masri's leadership. He said that in order to mask the foreign influence, al-Mashhadani and al-Masri created a fictitious entity known as the Islamic State of Iraq. The made-up leader of the insurgent organization, a man called Omar al-Baghdadi, was played by an actor for propaganda recordings.
In other news Wednesday, Iraqi officials say a pair of roadside bombs killed at least six people and wounded seven others in east Baghdad.
The U.S. military said two roadside bombs killed three American soldiers and wounded four others in Baghdad Tuesday.