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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan al-Qaeda leaders 'dead' | Pakistan al-Qaeda leaders 'dead' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Al-Qaeda's operations chief in Pakistan and another top aide are believed to have been killed, US sources say. | Al-Qaeda's operations chief in Pakistan and another top aide are believed to have been killed, US sources say. |
| Usama al-Kini and his lieutenant, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, were both killed in recent days, US counter-terrorism officials said. | Usama al-Kini and his lieutenant, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, were both killed in recent days, US counter-terrorism officials said. |
| Unconfirmed reports say the two men were killed by a missile fired by a US drone near the Afghan border. | Unconfirmed reports say the two men were killed by a missile fired by a US drone near the Afghan border. |
| Kini was believed to be behind last year's deadly attack on the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, they said. | Kini was believed to be behind last year's deadly attack on the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, they said. |
| Fifty-five people were killed when a truck packed with explosives rammed the hotel in September 2008. | Fifty-five people were killed when a truck packed with explosives rammed the hotel in September 2008. |
| 'Significant' | 'Significant' |
| Both al-Qaeda suspects died in South Waziristan, on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, an unidentified US counter-terrorism official told Reuters news agency. | Both al-Qaeda suspects died in South Waziristan, on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, an unidentified US counter-terrorism official told Reuters news agency. |
| "These deaths are a significant near-term degradation of al-Qaeda's leadership," he added. | "These deaths are a significant near-term degradation of al-Qaeda's leadership," he added. |
| Kini was involved in the Islamabad Marriott attack, officials say | Kini was involved in the Islamabad Marriott attack, officials say |
| He gave no details of how the men died. | He gave no details of how the men died. |
| However, the Washington Post, also citing intelligence sources, said they were killed in a missile strike by a CIA drone aircraft on a building on 1 January. | However, the Washington Post, also citing intelligence sources, said they were killed in a missile strike by a CIA drone aircraft on a building on 1 January. |
| "They died preparing new acts of terror," the US daily quoted a counter-terrorism official as saying. | "They died preparing new acts of terror," the US daily quoted a counter-terrorism official as saying. |
| The men - both born in Kenya - were on the FBI's most-wanted list over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. | The men - both born in Kenya - were on the FBI's most-wanted list over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. |
| Kini was also thought to have been behind an unsuccessful attempt on the life of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was later killed in a separate attack, US officials said. | Kini was also thought to have been behind an unsuccessful attempt on the life of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was later killed in a separate attack, US officials said. |
| The BBC website reported on 1 January that an unmanned CIA aircraft had fired three missiles in the Karikot area of South Waziristan, killing three suspected militants. | |
| The US has launched dozens of similar attacks in recent months, mostly targeting Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal regions. | The US has launched dozens of similar attacks in recent months, mostly targeting Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal regions. |
| 'Violation' | 'Violation' |
| The lawless tribal areas on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan are considered a sanctuary for the insurgents. | |
| The US says the militants regularly cross over the porous border into Afghanistan where the US troops have been fighting since 2001. | |
| The drone attacks are believed to have been largely on-target, hitting Taleban and al-Qaeda hideouts. | The drone attacks are believed to have been largely on-target, hitting Taleban and al-Qaeda hideouts. |
| There have been few civilian casualties, officials say. | There have been few civilian casualties, officials say. |
| But Pakistani media and opposition parties term these attacks a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the government has been under immense public pressure to defend its territory against them. | |
| Islamabad says the attacks are counter-productive as they help offset the negative popularity the Islamist militants have gained in areas under their control. | |