US forces have detained a top aide to the Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a US general said on Thursday.

The US forces captured Muhammed Khalif Shaker, also known as Abu Talha, who is the leader of al-Qaida group in Mosul, Brigadier General Donald Alston told a news conference in Baghdad.

Shaker was captured on Tuesday with little resistance, the US general said. "This is a major defeat for the al Qaida organization in Iraq."

"He gave up without a fight despite having been quoted as saying he would never surrender," Alston said, adding Shaker's capture depended on tips from local people.

In recent weeks, US and Iraqi security forces have announced the capture of several top aides of the Islamic militant group led by Zarqawi, the ally to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

Source: Xinhua