Al-Qaida praises slain leaders

BAGHDAD, April 25 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida in Iraq Sunday confirmed two of its leaders were killed in Tikrit in a joint U.S.-Iraqi military operation.

Confirmation came in a statement posted online by the Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaida front group, the Los Angeles Times reported.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden had called the April 19 death of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri a "potentially devastating blow" to al-Qaida in Iraq but the statement posted Sunday said the loss of Baghdadi and Masri would have little impact on the group's operations because new members have joined the organization.

"After a long journey filled with sacrifices and fighting falsehood and its representatives, two knights have dismounted to join the group of martyrs," the statement said. "We announce that the Muslim nation has lost two of the leaders of jihad, and two of its men, who are only known as heroes on the path of jihad."

The Internet posting came two days after 72 people were reported killed in bomb attacks on Shiite places of worship.