Saudi Arabia's security forces killed a most-wanted al-Qaeda leader in a clash in the capital Riyadh early today, the Interior Ministry said.
Moroccan national Younis Mohammad Ibrahim al-Hayyari, accused of involvement in a series of recent attacks in the world's biggest oil exporter, died after exchanging fire and hurling hand grenades at police, it said.
Hayyari's name was at the top of a list of 36 al-Qaeda suspects announced by Riyadh last week. The ministry said he had helped prepare explosives and had played a part in several attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia.
“He was recently nominated by his colleagues to be the leader of strife and corruption in the land, after the death of his predecessors,” the statement said.
Saudi Arabia has been battling suspected al-Qaeda militants since May 2003, when they launched their campaign of violence with triple suicide bombings at expatriate housing compounds in the Riyadh.
Interior Minister Prince Nayef said the operation was the result of extensive surveillance by Saudi security forces, and pledged to pursue other suspected militants.
“What happened today was the result of the effort of the previous period and God willing, we will reach the rest using the same method,” he told journalists after visiting wounded security forces in hospital.