Al-Qaida chief in Pakistan killed

Two top al-Qaida operatives were among four foreign militants killed in a suspected US missile strike in Pakistan's northwest, intelligence officials said on Wednesday.

One allegedly was in charge of the terror network's activities in Pakistan's tribal regions, semiautonomous areas that the US fears have become a haven for al-Qaida and Taliban fighters involved in attacks on American and NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan.

The suspected missile strike occurred Monday in the North Waziristan tribal region, destroying a seminary and houses associated with a Taliban commander.

The presence of al-Qaida operatives added to evidence of cooperation between homegrown militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the largely Arab terror group. The tribal belt is considered a possible hiding place for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri.

Several suspected missile strikes in recent days indicated the US is escalating direct efforts to root out militants along the lengthy, porous Afghan-Pakistan border. The US military and the CIA operate drone aircraft believed to have carried out such strikes, including ones that killed two senior al-Qaida commanders earlier this year.

Three Pakistani intelligence officials identified four foreign militants killed in the Monday strike as Abu Qasim, Abu Musa, Abu Hamza and Abu Haris. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of their jobs' sensitivity.

Abu Haris led al-Qaida efforts in the tribal areas, while Abu Hamza led activities in Peshawar, the main northwest city, according to the intelligence officials, who said they got the details from informants and agents in the field.

Abu Haris' nationality had yet to be confirmed, but Abu Hamza was from Saudi Arabia, the officials said. Abu Hamza was believed to be a bomb-making expert as well. Abu Qasim was Egyptian, while Abu Musa also was Saudi, but both appeared to be lower-ranking al-Qaida members.