Iraqi terror leader 'wounded'

Baghdad: Al Qaida's leader in Iraq "fled in fright" after being wounded in a clash with police that also killed his top aide, a government spokesman said.

Abu Ayyub Al Masri was wounded in gunfight between insurgents and police in Fallujah, said Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf.

Iraqi television station Al Iraqiya also quoted an Interior Ministry spokesman as saying that Masri "fled in fright" while his top aide was killed in the clash.

Abu Abdullah Al Majamiai, Al Masri's top aide, was killed as the rebel group tried to enter the town of Balad. Iraqi police reportedly have his body.

Al Masri took over leadership of Al Qaida in Iraq in June after the death of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.

Meanwhile, US, British and Iraqi forces have set up new security crackdown in Basra and Baghdad, a day after Iraq closed seven border crossings with Iran and Syria.

Iraq said it closed the crossings to keep Al Qaida-linked foreign fighters from entering the country.