Reply #20: Al-Jazeera: Confusion over al-Qaida 'death'

[IndianaGreen]

Confusion over al-Qaida 'death'

Sunday 04 December 2005, 20:04 Makka Time, 17:04 GMT

The United States says it cannot confirm the death of Hamza Rabia, an al-Qaida leader Pakistan claims to have killed near the border with Afghanistan.

Stephen Hadley, Bush's National Security Adviser, told Fox News on Sunday: "We have seen those reports out of Pakistan. Obviously, we're looking into them.

"At this point, we are not in a position publicly to confirm that he is dead."

<snip>

Sitting amid the ruins of his home in North Waziristan, Haji Mohammad Siddiq told Reuters that his 17-year-old son and an eight-year-old nephew were killed in a missile attack.

"There were no foreigners in my house," Siddiq said. "I have nothing to do with foreigners or al-Qaida.

"We were sleeping when I heard two explosions in my guest room. When I went there I saw my son, Abdul Wasit, and my eight-year-old nephew, Noor Aziz, were dead.

"I heard more explosions and went out to the courtyard, and when I looked up at the sky, I saw a white drone. I saw a flash of light come from the drone followed by explosions."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FFD2D6D0-307A-4240-B3FE-DFC9DA694EEE.htm

Earlier story posted in DU on this topic:

Al-Qaida denies Pakistan death claim

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2CC9A3F4-DE33-4FBF-A71B-2C7FC1591425.htm