Saudi Arabia confirms the killing of 15 including al-Qaida leader
Saudi Arabia, Local, 4/11/2005

Saudi Arabia confirmed today officially that its forces killed Saud al-Oteibi who is believed to be the leader of al-Qaida organization in the kingdom, and the Moroccan Abdul Karim al-Majati, who suspected to be the master mind for Madrid explosions, during the clashes in the north west of Riyadh.

A statement by the ministry of the interior said that the results of the clashes which erupted last Sunday and lasted for three days increased to 15 after finding another body on the site.

The statement added that al-Oteibi was invested by the organization as a successor for Abdul Aziz al-Mugarran who was killed by the security forces in June 2004. The reports talked earlier about the killing of al-Oteibi and al-Majati but the Saudi forces did not confirm this officially.

The statement disclosed the names of 10 persons out of 15 killed in the fighting including Adam, the son of al-Majati, while the others carry the Saudi nationality. The statement added that the identity of the other killed persons will be announced "as soon as related measures are completed."

The statement did not mention the killing of the main person wanted by the authorities, Saleh al-Oufi, who is believed to be the leader of al-Qaida organization, that the kingdom announced his killing earlier. It is also not clear whether al-Oufi is among those whose names have not been disclosed yet.

Both al-Oteibi and al-Majati are considered on top of the list of the 25 most wanted by the Saudi authorities.

The Saudi ministry of the interior announced three names out of 6 gunmen arrested after they were injured. The ministry indicated concerning the others that "national interest calls for not to disclosing their identity at the meantime."

Previous Stories:
  Confrontations end in Saudi Arabia by killing 14 gunmen, detaining others   (4/6/2005)
  Continued clashes in al-Qasim, two wanted men killed   (4/5/2005)
  Saudi police man, three wanted killed in north Saudi Arabia   (4/4/2005)

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