Al-Qaeda 'emir' killed in northern Iraq

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A local Al-Qaeda in Iraq warlord and two of his cohorts were killed in a shootout with Iraqi forces in the country's third largest city of Mosul, the US military said on Thursday.

Iraqi soldiers killed the three militants from the Islamic State of Iraq organisation -- including its leader, Safi, who was touted as the Al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Mosul -- during the gunbattle Wednesday, a statement said.

The soldiers were conducting operations in northeastern Mosul when Safi and three bodyguards were spotted in a pickup truck.

The military convoy gave chase and pulled the vehicle over. Safi and his security detail jumped out and opened fire on the soldiers. Iraqi troops returned fire and three of the militants were killed, the US military said.