Al-Qaida leader arrested in Iraq

The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested in the northern city of Mosul, an Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman said tonight.

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 US forces on the arrest.

Mr Al-Askari did not say when the al-Qaida leader was arrested.

News of the arrest was also reported by Iraqi state television.