November 02, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 3, 1429

MIRAMSHAH, Nov 1: Conflicting reports are emerging about the killing of an Iraqi Al Qaeda commander in the attack on Friday night by a US drone in North Waziristan. Some locals said that Abu Akash had left the place prior to the attack, but others insisted that he had been killed.

They said that at least four people had been killed when two missiles destroyed the house of Maulvi Amanullah in Asori village.

The locals said Abu Akash had been living in Mirali sub-division for the past few years, leading a corps of militants, including Arabs and Central Asians.

Unconfirmed reports said that Abu Akash, who was reportedly spotted in the area, had narrowly escaped while his four colleagues had been killed in the attack.

The locals said that an unidentified Arab national was among the dead.

Earlier, local and intelligence sources told media that 20 people, including Abu Akash, were killed when the US drone fired two missiles on the house of the local clergy in Asori, near Mirali town.

They said the dead had been buried in a local graveyard.

AFP adds: An Egyptian Al Qaeda operative, described by the United States as the terror network’s propaganda chief, was killed in the strike in North Waziristan, security officials said.

Abu Jihad al-Masri was among several rebels killed when two missiles fired by a US drone hit a truck.