By Country / Russia
FSB: Alleged Al-Qaeda Leader Killed In North Caucasus
December 16, 2005
Abu Omar al-Seif reportedly went to the North Caucases on orders from Osama bin Laden (RFE/RL)
Nikolai Patrushev told reporters that Saudi-born Abu Omar al-Seif was killed in the Northern Caucasus republic of Daghestan last month.
Al-Seif's death had earlier been reported by Russian media but had not been officially confirmed.
The FSB says al-Seif arrived in the Northern Caucasus 10 years ago on the orders of Osama bin Laden. It says he ran the Al-Haramein Islamic Foundation as a cover for setting up a terrorist network in Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Daghestan. Al-Seif also allegedly acted as a counsellor to Chechen separatist rebels.
Patrushev today said security forces killed more than 300 suspected militants in sweep operations in the Northern Caucasus this year.
(Interfax/RIA-Novosti/ITAR-TASS)