If true, so sweet!

“The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq was believed killed in a battle between insurgents north of Baghdad, Iraqi security ministers said on Tuesday, but an al Qaeda-linked group denied the reports.

The United States ambassador to Iraq and the U.S. military said they could not confirm Abu Ayyub al-Masri had been killed.

Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said “primary information” showed Masri was dead, telling a news conference that details would soon be released to the media.

“Some good news was received about the killing of Abu Ayyub al-Masri … The reliability of this information is high,” Bolani said alongside Defense Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim, who also said Masri was believed killed.

Asked again to confirm Masri was dead, Bolani said: “If he has not been killed today, he will be killed tomorrow.”

The al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq denied that Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, had been killed.

“The Islamic State in Iraq assures the Islamic nation about the safety of Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, may God save him, and that he is still fighting the enemies,” said the group in a statement posted on a Web site used by militants.

Iraqi officials have given conflicting accounts of whether Masri was purportedly killed on Tuesday or Monday in a fight between insurgents north of Baghdad. They said his body had not been recovered.”

Reading Minter at PJM, it appears his demise might have been from infighting and bounty collecting.

This is not the first time Masri’s death announcement was premature, or false, but nonetheless significant tolls are being inflicted on Al Qaeda figures.

I’m on the road, but watch Capt Ed’s place, and Heading Right for more updates.