Al-Qaida Operative's Death: Missile Pieces found in Destroyed Home
Miran Shah 
Associated Press
Khaleej Times, UAE
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Islamabad (Pakistan):
Shrapnel that appeared to be from an American-made missile was found Sunday at the house where Pakistan said a top al-Qaida operative was killed in an explosion, although President Bush's national security adviser declined to confirm the death. U.S. and Pakistani officials declined to confirm an NBC report, citing anonymous officials, that the attack on the house where Hamza Rabia reportedly died was launched by a U.S. drone. 
Local residents found at least two pieces of shrapnel at the blast scene inscribed with the designation of the Hellfire missile, which is carried by the U.S. Air Force's unmanned, remote-controlled Predator aircraft. The metal pieces bore the designator "AGM-114," the words "guided missile" and the initials "US." John Pike, director of the defense Web site GlobalSecurity.org, said the Hellfire is used almost exclusively by the U.S. military.
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See Also:
Mystery shrouds top terrorist's death
Pakistan Insists al-Qaida Operative Dead
Questions raised in Pakistan attack
Committee to Protect Journalists Urges to Find Reporter
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A senior Pakistani intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the media, said Saturday that Rabia died in a huge explosion set off by a missile attack.
U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley declined to confirm that Rabia, said to be among al-Qaida's top five leaders and responsible for planning overseas attacks, was dead or that the attack was carried out by a pilotless U.S. plane. Musharraf said Saturday it was "200 percent confirmed" that Rabia was killed.
The senior Pakistani intelligence official said the missile attack blew up a stockpile of bomb-making materials, grenades and other munitions. Pakistani officials said Rabia's death was confirmed by DNA tests.
But the Dawn newspaper, citing officials it did not identify, said Saturday his body had been retrieved by associates from outside Pakistan. Two U.S. counterterrorism officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the information's sensitivity, said Saturday that Rabia was believed to be an Egyptian and head of al-Qaida's foreign operations, possibly as senior as the No. 3 in the terrorist group, just below al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahri.
Dec 06, 2005
Miran Shah
Associated Press
Khaleej Times, UAE
_______________
Islamabad (Pakistan):
Shrapnel that appeared to be from an American-made missile was found Sunday at the house where Pakistan said a top al-Qaida operative was killed in an explosion, although President Bush's national security adviser declined to confirm the death. U.S. and Pakistani officials declined to confirm an NBC report, citing anonymous officials, that the attack on the house where Hamza Rabia reportedly died was launched by a U.S. drone.
Local residents found at least two pieces of shrapnel at the blast scene inscribed with the designation of the Hellfire missile, which is carried by the U.S. Air Force's unmanned, remote-controlled Predator aircraft. The metal pieces bore the designator "AGM-114," the words "guided missile" and the initials "US." John Pike, director of the defense Web site GlobalSecurity.org, said the Hellfire is used almost exclusively by the U.S. military.___________________
See Also:
Mystery shrouds top terrorist's death
Pakistan Insists al-Qaida Operative Dead
Questions raised in Pakistan attack
Committee to Protect Journalists Urges to Find Reporter
________________________
A senior Pakistani intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the media, said Saturday that Rabia died in a huge explosion set off by a missile attack.
U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley declined to confirm that Rabia, said to be among al-Qaida's top five leaders and responsible for planning overseas attacks, was dead or that the attack was carried out by a pilotless U.S. plane. Musharraf said Saturday it was "200 percent confirmed" that Rabia was killed.
The senior Pakistani intelligence official said the missile attack blew up a stockpile of bomb-making materials, grenades and other munitions. Pakistani officials said Rabia's death was confirmed by DNA tests.
But the Dawn newspaper, citing officials it did not identify, said Saturday his body had been retrieved by associates from outside Pakistan. Two U.S. counterterrorism officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the information's sensitivity, said Saturday that Rabia was believed to be an Egyptian and head of al-Qaida's foreign operations, possibly as senior as the No. 3 in the terrorist group, just below al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahri.
Dec 06, 2005
