BBC US troops in Iraq say they have killed an al-Qaeda leader who masterminded the attacks on a Shia shrine that led to a major escalation in sectarian violence.
Officials say Haitham al-Badri was behind the 2006 and 2007 attacks on the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, which destroyed its golden dome and minarets.
Mr Badri's body has reportedly been identified by people close to him.
The US claim came as mortar attacks killed at least 11 people in the eastern part of the capital, Baghdad.
Mr Badri, said to be leader of al-Qaeda in Salahuddin Province, was killed on Thursday by US troops east of Samarra, US officials said.
"It looked like they were setting up an ambush and so they [the troops] brought in rotary-wing close air support and there was some strafing that occurred from helicopters," US military spokesman Mark Fox said.
He added that the dead man's body had been positively identified by "close associates and family members".......
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