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AFP is reporting more about the killing of Mansur Suleiman al-Mashhadani, the right hand man of former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Zarqawi.

The US military says it has killed the "right-hand man" of slain Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Major General William Caldwell says Iraqi Mansur Suleiman al-Mashhadani was killed on Friday by US forces in Yusifiyah, south of Baghdad.

"We do know that Sheikh Mansur was a key leader in Al Qaeda in Iraq with excellent religious, military and leadership credentials within that organisation," General Caldwell said.

He describes him as Zarqawi's right-hand man and a liaison between Al Qaeda and tribes in the restive area south of Baghdad.

The Mashhadani are a major tribe of Sunni Arabs.

"He was tied to the senior leadership, including having relationships with both Zarqawi and al-Masri," General Caldwell said, referring to Abu Ayub al-Masri, whom the US military claim to be Zarqawi's successor.

"We do think that his death will significantly continue to impact on the ability of this organisation to regenerate and organise itself."

General Caldwell says Sheikh Mansur was "multifunctional" with responsibilities including spiritual advice, recruitment, leadership and media operations.

A large framed picture showing Sheikh Mansur before and after he was killed has been displayed by General Caldwell in the same manner as a picture of Zarqawi's dead face after he was killed in a US air strike on June 7 near the restive city of Baquba.

He was killed along with two other foreign terrorists by a strike from a helicopter after the driver of the car he was in refused to stop. It sounds like it's getting pretty dangerous to be a terrorist in Iraq these days.

Good.