Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, a key U.S. ally in Iraq, was killed in a bombing outside his house Thursday afternoon in Anbar province, The Washington Post reported.
According to the Post, the bomb exploded while Risha was in his backyard talking on a cell phone. Two bodyguards and another man were also killed.
Abu Risha's group, the Anbar Salvation Council, was instrumental in organizing tribal rivals into successfully uniting against al-Qaida in Iraq, according to the Post.
Bush, who met with Abu Risha during a surprise visit to Anbar province last week, mentioned the death during his address to the nation Thursday night and promised Sunni leaders that they "can count on the continued support of the United States," the Post reported.
-PATRICIO CHILE
