Murphy
12-03-2005, 04:09 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/03/pakistan.rabia/index.html
Pakistan: Senior al Qaeda leader killed
'He was a big fish,' information minister says
LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani officials Saturday confirmed the recent death of Abu Hamza Rabia, the operations chief of the al Qaeda terrorist network, but denied reports that the blast was caused by a missile strike.
The officials said Rabia died in an explosion in a home in the North Waziristan tribal area of Pakistan, near the Afghan border.
He was apparently working with explosives when the blast occurred, Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told CNN.
The November 30 explosion killed "five miscreants, including three foreigners," one of whom was Rabia, Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao told CNN.
Authorities are examining the home where the blast took place, Sherpao said.
During a visit to Kuwait, Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, confirmed Rabia's death.
"Yes, indeed, 200 percent confirmed." he said.
Pakistan does not have body
Musharraf said Rabia was killed north of the town of Miran Shah, but did not shed any light on how he died.
His press secretary and army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said Pakistan's government does not have custody of Rabia's body, adding that it was "probably taken away by his comrades."
When asked by CNN if Rabia was killed in a missile strike, Sultan said, "This death was the result of an accidental explosion."
Pakistani officials had been tracking Rabia for over a month, Ahmed said.
"He was a big fish in al Qaeda," he said.
Pakistani troops have engaged in several battles with suspected al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in North Waziristan, the mountainous region along the border with Afghanistan that is believed to shelter militants.
'Significant blow'
Two U.S. intelligence officials describe this as a "very significant development" and a "significant blow to al Qaeda and its organization."
The officials say Rabia, an Egyptian in his 30s, was responsible for external planning of terrorism, including terror strikes against the United States. They said he replaced Abu Faraj al-Libbi, a top al Qaeda leader, who was captured earlier this year.
Rabia narrowly avoided capture on November 5, and was slightly wounded in the leg, Sherpao said.
CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi and David Ensor contributed to this report.
Pakistan: Senior al Qaeda leader killed
'He was a big fish,' information minister says
LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani officials Saturday confirmed the recent death of Abu Hamza Rabia, the operations chief of the al Qaeda terrorist network, but denied reports that the blast was caused by a missile strike.
The officials said Rabia died in an explosion in a home in the North Waziristan tribal area of Pakistan, near the Afghan border.
He was apparently working with explosives when the blast occurred, Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told CNN.
The November 30 explosion killed "five miscreants, including three foreigners," one of whom was Rabia, Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao told CNN.
Authorities are examining the home where the blast took place, Sherpao said.
During a visit to Kuwait, Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, confirmed Rabia's death.
"Yes, indeed, 200 percent confirmed." he said.
Pakistan does not have body
Musharraf said Rabia was killed north of the town of Miran Shah, but did not shed any light on how he died.
His press secretary and army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said Pakistan's government does not have custody of Rabia's body, adding that it was "probably taken away by his comrades."
When asked by CNN if Rabia was killed in a missile strike, Sultan said, "This death was the result of an accidental explosion."
Pakistani officials had been tracking Rabia for over a month, Ahmed said.
"He was a big fish in al Qaeda," he said.
Pakistani troops have engaged in several battles with suspected al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in North Waziristan, the mountainous region along the border with Afghanistan that is believed to shelter militants.
'Significant blow'
Two U.S. intelligence officials describe this as a "very significant development" and a "significant blow to al Qaeda and its organization."
The officials say Rabia, an Egyptian in his 30s, was responsible for external planning of terrorism, including terror strikes against the United States. They said he replaced Abu Faraj al-Libbi, a top al Qaeda leader, who was captured earlier this year.
Rabia narrowly avoided capture on November 5, and was slightly wounded in the leg, Sherpao said.
CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi and David Ensor contributed to this report.