Saudi official lauds 'major blow' to al Qaeda
(CNN) -- "A major blow" has been dealt to al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia with the killing of four of its top leaders in the kingdom, Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir said Saturday.
Among the dead is Abdel Aziz al-Muqrin, the nation's most-wanted militant and the self-proclaimed leader of al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Al-Muqrin claimed responsibility for the beheading of U.S. hostage Paul Johnson Jr.
There are conflicting reports on whether Johnson's remains have been found.
Al-Jubeir said that contrary to earlier reports from Saudi security officials, Johnson's corpse has not been recovered.
"We are searching for the body," he told reporters Saturday in Washington. "We believe we know the area where it might be, in the northern outskirts of Riyadh, but haven't found the body yet."
Al-Jubeir insisted that if Saudi forces had found remains, a tattoo would help identify them as Johnson's, DNA tests would be conducted and a speedy burial would be arranged.
Saudi security sources had said a headless body had been found but that the identity could not be confirmed.
Al-Jubeir said al-Muqrin was killed during a shootout with Saudi security forces Friday night.
An al Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia vowed revenge for the death of al-Muqrin and three other members in a statement posted to an Islamist Web site.
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http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...nap/index.html
(CNN) -- "A major blow" has been dealt to al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia with the killing of four of its top leaders in the kingdom, Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir said Saturday.
Among the dead is Abdel Aziz al-Muqrin, the nation's most-wanted militant and the self-proclaimed leader of al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Al-Muqrin claimed responsibility for the beheading of U.S. hostage Paul Johnson Jr.
There are conflicting reports on whether Johnson's remains have been found.
Al-Jubeir said that contrary to earlier reports from Saudi security officials, Johnson's corpse has not been recovered.
"We are searching for the body," he told reporters Saturday in Washington. "We believe we know the area where it might be, in the northern outskirts of Riyadh, but haven't found the body yet."
Al-Jubeir insisted that if Saudi forces had found remains, a tattoo would help identify them as Johnson's, DNA tests would be conducted and a speedy burial would be arranged.
Saudi security sources had said a headless body had been found but that the identity could not be confirmed.
Al-Jubeir said al-Muqrin was killed during a shootout with Saudi security forces Friday night.
An al Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia vowed revenge for the death of al-Muqrin and three other members in a statement posted to an Islamist Web site.
Read the rest here:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...nap/index.html
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