Insurgent 'leader' held in Iraq

Iraqi forces captured the man during a raid in Baghdad

A man described as a "senior leader" of an al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group has been arrested in Iraq, according to an Iraqi military spokesman.

The man was captured on Friday in a raid in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib district, spokesman Qassim Moussawi said.

Earlier reports had suggested that the man was Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the self-styled leader of the Sunni Arab group the Islamic State in Iraq.

But Mr Moussawi confirmed that this was not the case.

"We captured a figure who was a senior al-Qaeda member and we suspected that he was Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, but after initial investigations it was proven it was not Abu Omar al-Baghdadi," he said.

Baghdadi heads an umbrella group of Sunni insurgent movements fighting the Iraqi government and US troops in Iraq.

His group is believed to be behind a series of attacks in Iraq, including the kidnapping and murder of at least 18 police officers last week.

Security sources said he was also among militants who stormed a prison near the northern city of Mosul, freeing some 140 prisoners.