An Iraq Interior Ministery spokesman told CNN the leader of Al Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been wounded in a firefight between the terror group and Iraqi police.

The spokesman said Iraqi police encountered an insurgent group on the road between Falluja and Samarra and, in a firefight, wounded Abu Ayyub al-Masri.

Abu Abdullah al-Majamiai, al-Masri’s top aide, was killed, he said.

The spokesman said Iraqi police have the body of al-Majamiai and would not comment on the whereabouts of al-Masri.

Al-Masri took over after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed, allegedly after the ‘main office’ propped him up to succeed the Jordanian.

UPDATE: NBC news is reporting al-Masri was captured, but as Andew Cochran of The Counteterrorism Blog notes, wait for a U.S. confirmation.

UPDATE (2/16/2007): The U.S. military denies al-Masri was even wounded, much less captured.  Baghdad Bob must have his old job back.