US forces seize 16 'Qaeda terrorists'

BAGHDAD: US forces in Iraq captured 16 suspected insurgents on Friday including an Al-Qaeda leader known as 'The Butcher' because of his penchant for beheading capitives.

This suspect was one of six insurgents captured in an early morning raid in the northern city of Mosul in which a seventh suspect was killed, according to a statement from US military headquarters.

The Butcher is "allegedly responsible for numerous kidnappings, beheadings, and suicide operations in the Ramadi and Mosul areas," it said.

In the western city of Fallujah, troops captured two men suspected of helping foreign extremist fighters to slip into the country.

Eight more suspected members of an insurgent courier network were rounded up near the nearby town of Karmah, the statement said, including an "Al-Qaeda media emir" responsible for propaganda.