ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia has killed a leading Al Qaida operative.
The Interior Ministry said Saudi security forces shot dead an Al Qaida
agent linked to the Nov. 9 suicide strike in Riyad. The operative was
identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Abdullah Al Rayes.
"Ibrahim Al Rayes, monitored on the basis of information provided by
residents, opened fire against security forces who responded, killing him,"
the official Saudi Press Agency said.
Al Rayes, 39, was on the Saudi list of the 26 most wanted fugitives. The
ministry, which offered a reward of $267,000, said all of the fugitives were
connected to Al Qaida suicide strikes in the kingdom. Authorities have also
imposed new regulations on a range of service companies to help monitor the
movement of insurgency suspects.
The ministry said Al Rayes and another Al Qaida fugitive were killed
during a security operation on Monday in Riyad. The insurgents were said to
have been hiding in a gasoline station in the Sweidi district southwest of
the Saudi capital. Sweidi, regarded as an Al Qaida stronghold, has been the
scene of several gunbattles between security forces and insurgents.
[On Monday, the United States reiterated a warning for citizens to avoid
travel to Saudi Arabia. The State Department said it has received "credible
information" that Islamic insurgents have targeted residential compounds in
the Riyad area.]
The Saudi counter-insurgency operation included the use of tanks and
helicopters. Witnesses said at least one helicopter monitored the movement
of the insurgents while tanks were positioned behind a wall to provide
firepower.
Security forces also found a machine gun, three pistols and ammunition
in the Al Qaida stronghold, the ministry said. The second Al Qaida operative
who was killed was not identified. Two other suspects were arrested.
On Tuesday, the London-based Al Hayat reported that Iran and the United
States have been negotiating a deal for the surrender of Al Qaida operatives
being protected by Teheran. Under the proposed deal mediated by Jordan,
Washington would surrender Mujahadeen Khalq opposition forces in exchange
for Iran's extradition of 70 Al Qaida operatives.
