CNN REPORTS: US MILITARY DOUBT IRAQI CLAIMS OF CAPTURE OF TOP AL QAEDA LEADER

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq was captured early Thursday in the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi officials said.

Abu Ayyub al-Masri was reportedly caught in Mosul. Intelligence officials are skeptical of the news.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/08/iraq.alqaeda/index.html

U.S. military officials were surprised about the report of Abu Ayyub al-Masri's capture -- first reported by Iraqi media and picked up by The Associated Press. And intelligence officials said they were skeptical, even though Iraqi officials said al-Masri was already in U.S. military custody.

Al-Masri ("the Egyptian"), also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, took the reins of the Iraqi al Qaeda offshoot in June 2006 after a U.S. missile strike killed his predecessor, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Since then, Iraqi officials have reported his death three times, his capture twice and a mortal wounding once. Watch more about al-Masri's role with al Qaeda in Iraq