Iraq Says Jordanian Militant Killed, Others Captured

Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the late leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, was also Jordanian in origin (AFP) July 18, 2006 -- Iraq's National Security Adviser, Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i, says Iraqi forces have killed a Jordanian responsible for the killing and mutilation last month of two captured U.S. soldiers.

The Jordanian -- identified as Diyar Ismail Mahmud -- also goes by the name of Abu al-Afghani. U.S. officials say they have no evidence to support the claim that Mahmud killed the U.S. soldiers.

Al-Rubay'i says security forces also captured the leaders of the Umar Brigade, a wing of the Al-Qaeda in Iraq network. The Umar Brigade has claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks throughout Iraq.

Al-Rubay'i identified the group's captured leader as Jassim Muhammad, who is also known as Abu Othman.

(AP)