Maliki Aide Who Discussed Amnesty Leaves Job

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501267.html?nav=hcmodule
BAGHDAD, June 15 -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office on Thursday accepted the resignation of an aide who had told a reporter that Maliki was considering a limited amnesty that would likely include guerrillas who had attacked U.S. troops, the aide said.

Also, on a day when the U.S. military announced that the death toll for American personnel had reached 2,500, U.S. military and counterterrorism officials said they believed they had identified the new head of the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq: Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian about 40 years old and a longtime associate of Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri. A Web site tied to al-Qaeda in Iraq on Monday identified the same man as Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, a pseudonym meaning "the immigrant.
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Kadhimi, who also worked as an aide to the previous prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jafari, said he had submitted his resignation earlier in the week. He was informed Thursday that it had been accepted, he said.

Another Maliki aide, asked if the amnesty being considered by the government was likely to apply to those who had attacked U.S. forces, said Maliki had been "clear, saying those whose hands weren't stained with Iraqi blood" may be eligible for any amnesty.