Laith Al Libi’s death not confirmed: Hamid
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Federal Caretaker Interior Minister, Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Nawaz has said that the death of top Al Qaeda man Laith Al Libi has not been confirmed and the investigations are underway to ascertain the causes of Waziristan blast.
Talking to media men here Friday, the Minister said that local Taliban and Al-Qaida is likely to be involved in the Mir Ali blast adding that the bodies were lifted by the locals before the arrival of the forces.
Responding to a question regarding on-going operation against the extremists and the militants in Waziristan and Dara Adam Khail, the Minister said that the operation has been completed and peace prevails in the area The firing in the area has been stopped and efforts are underway to solve the matter through Jirga, he added.
Talking on the investigations with Aitzaz arrested in connection with Liaqat Bagh tragedy, the Minister said that he has changed his statements several times, adding that the investigations would be publicized after completed.
Lt Gen Hamid Nawaz while commenting on the suggestions of ex-Army Generals regarding resignation of President Musharraf said that he (Musharraf) would himself give response, adding that every one has the right to give his opinion. Commenting on the on-going investigations of the murder of Late PPP Chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, the Minister said that Scotland Yard Team would arrive Pakistan next week.
A top Al-Qaeda commander who led Osama bin Laden’s terror network in Afghanistan was believed to have been killed when a missile fired by a US drone hit his Pakistani hideout, officials said Friday. Abu Laith al-Libi is said to be one of bin Laden’s top five lieutenants and allegedly masterminded a deadly bombing at a US military base in Afghanistan during a visit by US Vice-President Dick Cheney last year.
Pakistani security officials said the Libyan was one of 13 Al-Qaeda militants staying at a compound in the country’s North Waziristan tribal region when it was destroyed in the air raid early on Tuesday.
“Al-Libi was there at the time of the strike. No one survived, we believe he was killed,” one intelligence official based in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, told.
“The missile attack was carried out by a US Predator,” the official said, quoting residents who witnessed a pilotless drone circling in the area for at least two days before the attack.
A senior Pakistani security official in Islamabad added: “We think al-Libi died in the missile attack.” In a possible act of revenge, three Pakistani soldiers were killed and five injured on Friday when a suicide bomber rammed his car into a checkpost a few kilometres from the scene of the air strike, the army said.