Iraqi forces kill leading Qaeda member in Tikrit

Iraqi security forces killed a leading member of al-Qaeda on Friday and detained four other militants during raids in the city of Tikrit, a source told Arab Today. According to the source, who wished to remain anonymous, security forces were carrying out an operation in the Kassarat area of Tikrit, when they killed Hamed Ahmed al-Samerae, a leading member of al-Qaeda in Iraq. The source added that Samerae’s aids voluntarily surrendered to security forces. The operation came in response to intelligence reports suggesting al-Qaeda is using abandoned homes in the area to plot attacks and hide weapons. The source said to Arab Today that Samerae was believed to have been involved in planning the Abu Ghraib jail break on July 22,  that saw hundreds of convicts, including senior members of al-Qaeda, escape from prison.