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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Top al-Qaeda commander 'killed' | Top al-Qaeda commander 'killed' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A senior al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, Abu Laith al-Libi, has been killed, Western counter-terrorism officials have told the BBC. | A senior al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, Abu Laith al-Libi, has been killed, Western counter-terrorism officials have told the BBC. |
| News of his death emerged on a website used by Islamist groups. Ekhlaas.org said he had "fallen as a martyr". | News of his death emerged on a website used by Islamist groups. Ekhlaas.org said he had "fallen as a martyr". |
| There is speculation that he was killed by a US missile strike in the North Waziristan area of Pakistan this week. | There is speculation that he was killed by a US missile strike in the North Waziristan area of Pakistan this week. |
| He is believed to have behind an attack at an Afghan air base a year ago, while the US vice-president was visiting. | He is believed to have behind an attack at an Afghan air base a year ago, while the US vice-president was visiting. |
| A Pakistani daily paper, the News, reported that the suspected US strike was aimed at Libi and another senior figure, Obaidah al-Masri. | A Pakistani daily paper, the News, reported that the suspected US strike was aimed at Libi and another senior figure, Obaidah al-Masri. |
| The Pakistani government said it knew nothing about Libi's death. | The Pakistani government said it knew nothing about Libi's death. |
| US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he did not "have anything definitive" to say about the news, the Associated Press reported. | US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he did not "have anything definitive" to say about the news, the Associated Press reported. |
| Al-Qaeda spokesman | Al-Qaeda spokesman |
| Libi, 41, has appeared in a number of al-Qaeda videos. In November he appeared alongside al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri. | Libi, 41, has appeared in a number of al-Qaeda videos. In November he appeared alongside al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri. |
| ABU LAITH AL-LIBI Born: Libya, around 1967Description: 193cm (6'4") tall, solid build, dark hair and eyes, scars on backRole: Senior operations commander; al-Qaeda spokesman Source: Globalsecurity.org Profile: Abu Laith al-Libi | |
| He has acted as a spokesman for the group, announcing in 2002 that Osama Bin Laden and Taleban leader Mullah Omar had survived the US invasion of Afghanistan. | He has acted as a spokesman for the group, announcing in 2002 that Osama Bin Laden and Taleban leader Mullah Omar had survived the US invasion of Afghanistan. |
| Libi was under US intelligence surveillance and most details about him are classified, says the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner. | Libi was under US intelligence surveillance and most details about him are classified, says the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner. |
| "This individual is in the top half-dozen figures in al-Qaeda... who has a long record of military activity on behalf of al-Qaeda," an unnamed Western official told Reuters news agency. | "This individual is in the top half-dozen figures in al-Qaeda... who has a long record of military activity on behalf of al-Qaeda," an unnamed Western official told Reuters news agency. |
| He is thought to be one of al-Qaeda's most senior field commanders in Afghanistan, and to have directed a number of recent suicide bomb attacks in the east of the country. | He is thought to be one of al-Qaeda's most senior field commanders in Afghanistan, and to have directed a number of recent suicide bomb attacks in the east of the country. |
| The US has linked him the bombing at the US base at Bagram in Afghanistan in February last year that killed 23 people. US Vice-President Dick Cheney was at the base at the time. | The US has linked him the bombing at the US base at Bagram in Afghanistan in February last year that killed 23 people. US Vice-President Dick Cheney was at the base at the time. |
| Reports say Libi was also active across the border in the Waziristan region of Pakistan. | Reports say Libi was also active across the border in the Waziristan region of Pakistan. |
| 'Drone spotted' | 'Drone spotted' |
| Local officials in Pakistan said on Tuesday that 12 militants had been killed in a missile strike from "an unknown direction" that hit a village near Mir Ali. | Local officials in Pakistan said on Tuesday that 12 militants had been killed in a missile strike from "an unknown direction" that hit a village near Mir Ali. |
| Residents reported having seen a drone aircraft in the region before the attack. | Residents reported having seen a drone aircraft in the region before the attack. |
| On Thursday, Pakistani intelligence officials said 13 people had died - seven Arabs and six Central Asians. | On Thursday, Pakistani intelligence officials said 13 people had died - seven Arabs and six Central Asians. |
| One told Reuters: "The missile appeared to have been fired by a drone." | One told Reuters: "The missile appeared to have been fired by a drone." |
| Correspondents say the US has launched a number of strikes at suspected militants in Pakistan - some of them missiles fired by drones. | Correspondents say the US has launched a number of strikes at suspected militants in Pakistan - some of them missiles fired by drones. |
| Pakistan has repeatedly insisted that it will not accept foreign military action on its territory. | Pakistan has repeatedly insisted that it will not accept foreign military action on its territory. |
| Two years ago Pakistan complained to the US after a similar strike, reportedly aimed at al-Qaeda number two Zawahri, killed 18 people in a village near the Afghan border. | Two years ago Pakistan complained to the US after a similar strike, reportedly aimed at al-Qaeda number two Zawahri, killed 18 people in a village near the Afghan border. |
| Most analysts say Libi's death would be a blow to al-Qaeda, both symbolically and operationally, our correspondent says. | Most analysts say Libi's death would be a blow to al-Qaeda, both symbolically and operationally, our correspondent says. |
| But al-Qaeda has proved itself to be resilient to individual losses and setbacks, and no-one is predicting an immediate decline in attacks in the region, says our security correspondent. | But al-Qaeda has proved itself to be resilient to individual losses and setbacks, and no-one is predicting an immediate decline in attacks in the region, says our security correspondent. |