The murder of Mullah Nadim al-Juburi, 34, came after he made remarks on Iraqi television of how the organisation`s front group, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), had made key changes to its leadership.
"We feared such an incident would occur," said Amr Khuzaie, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki`s adviser on national reconciliation, told AFP.
"Mullah Nadhim al-Juburi and others took the risk of being killed, but that will not prevent us from continuing to work with anyone who wants to rebuild the country."
Juburi, who worked in the national reconciliation commission, was killed on Tuesday night while driving in the west Baghdad neighbourhood of Mansur, police in the capital said.
A vehicle in front of him slowed down, forcing his car also to slow while a second vehicle pulled up alongside his and gunmen opened fire using silenced weapons.
"He worked with us (in the national reconciliation commission) after becoming aware of the crimes of Al-Qaeda," said Khuzaie, who blamed the ISI and supporters of executed dictator Saddam Hussein`s Baath Party for Juburi`s murder.
Juburi sparked the ire of extremists last week when he appeared on television to give details about changes to the ISI`s operational structure in the leadership and in south Iraq, and provided the names of those in charge.
On the Honein jihadist Internet forum, several messages on Sunday had warned that Juburi`s "days are numbered."
Juburi was the leader of ISI`s fighters in Duluiyah, a predominantly Sunni town 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Baghdad, before cutting ties with the group in May 2008 and siding with US forces.
He then became a leader of the Sahwa, comprised of Sunni tribal militias that turned away from Al-Qaeda from late 2006 onwards, helping turn the tide of Iraq`s violent insurgency. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
