Alleged al-Qaida leader slain in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A man alleged to be one of Al-Qaida In Iraq's chief terrorist leaders has been slain In Baghdad, military officials say.

Mahir Ahmad Mahmud Judu al-Zubaydi, also known as Abu Rami and Abu Assad, was killed after U.S.-led coalition forces surrounded a house in Baghdad's Adhamiya neighborhood Friday and engaged in a firefight, CNN reported Saturday.

Abu Rami was blamed by U.S. intelligence for masterminding numerous car bombings, including an Oct. 2 suicide car bombing that killed eight people and wounded more than 30, as well as a November 2006 bombing targeting Shiites that killed more than 200 people.

Military officials told CNN that after they determined Abu Rami was in the building, several children were evacuated and a small explosive was detonated, setting it on fire.

In addition to the alleged terrorist leader, a female was also killed in the raid, military officials said.