US military says kills two more Iraq Qaeda leaders

BAGHDAD, May 4 (Reuters) The US military said today it had identified two more senior al Qaeda in Iraq leaders killed in an operation north of Baghdad three days ago.

It said the latest two people confirmed killed were Sabah Hilal al-Shihawi, who it said was the religious adviser of Muharib Abdul Latif al-Jubouri, and Abu Ammar al-Masri, who it described as a foreign fighter.

The US military said on Thursday it had killed Jubouri, the senior information minister for al Qaeda in Iraq, in a raid in Taji, north of Baghdad. Shihawi and Masri were killed in the same operation.

The military said in a statement that five insurgents were known to have been killed during an offensive against al Qaeda in Iraq known as ''Operation Rat Trap'' on Tuesday morning.

It said Shihawi was also known as Sabah al-Alwani and Abu Nuri. Intelligence reports indicated Masri was a foreign fighter helping the insurgency in Iraq.

Both men were identified by associates at the site, and photograpic evidence also identified Shihawi, the military said in a statement.

''This is what al Qaeda in Iraq members can expect when they target the Iraqi people and security forces that protect them,'' US military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver said.

The US military has said Jubouri was involved in the kidnapping of American journalist Jill Carroll, peace activist Tom Fox and other foreigners.

REUTERS KK HS1550