BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi officials say a police commander who for years hunted militants was ambushed and killed in a former insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad.

Police in the city of Fallujah said Col. Saad al-Shameri's pickup truck was fired upon as it was driving near the police station where he worked, and that he was killed. His driver also was killed.

Local health officials confirmed the deaths. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

Al-Shameri led a police task force charged with pursuing al-Qaida in Iraq and other insurgent groups in Fallujah, located 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad.

Police said he had survived earlier assassination attempts against him, most recently last year.