Al-Qaida No 2 in Iraq killed

The No 2 leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq - a Moroccan known for his ability to recruit and motivate foreign fighters - has been killed in the northern city of Mosul, the US military said yesterday.

The military statement described him as a charismatic leader who had trained in Afghanistan and managed to rally Al-Qaida followers in Iraq despite US and Iraqi security gains.

US troops, acting on tips, killed Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, on Oct 5 after coming under fire during a raid on a building that served as An al-Qaida in Iraq "key command and control location" in Mosul, the military said.