May 1 (Bloomberg) -- The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been killed in Taji, north of Baghdad, Iraqi Brigadier Abu al-Kareem Khalaf told state television.

Khalaf didn't give details on how al-Masri died or who killed him.

Al-Masri was identified as the new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq on an Islamist Web site last year, shortly after his predecessor, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a U.S. air strike northeast of Baghdad on June 7.

To contact the reporter on this story: Robin Stringer in London at rstringer@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 1, 2007 04:27 EDT