U.S. Military Announces Killing of Key Aide to Militant Al-Zarqawi

[rodbarnett]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. troops killed a key lieutenant to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a militant with suspected ties to al-Qaida, the military said Tuesday.

Abu Mohammed Hamza, believed to have been a bombmaker for al-Zarqawi, was killed Thursday in Habaniyah after U.S. troops came under fire while distributing leaflets, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said.

The troops returned fire, killing Hamza, he said.

Kimmitt, the coalition deputy operations chief, said several people were arrested. He said bomb-making materials and pictures of al-Zarqawi were found in the house where Hamza was killed.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAMRIH32RD.html