Al Qaeda supporters in Saudi Arabia dismissed as speculation on Wednesday reports that prominent militant Saleh al-Awfi had been killed and replaced as their local leader. But they threw no light on the fate of the man who was widely believed to have taken over leadership of Osama bin Laden's network in Saudi Arabia in June and then disappeared from view.Several Saudi newspapers reported last week that Awfi was dead or at least replaced as local Al Qaeda chief after another wanted militant, Saud al-Oteibi, put his name to an article in Al Qaeda's online newsletter Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Jihad). "How foolish they are. Sheikh Saud has written the foreword to the magazine for four months or more and they haven't come to this conclusion until now," said a commentary in Muaskar al-Battar, Al Qaeda's military online magazine.
The Interior Ministry says it has no proof Awfi was dead but officials say it was possible he died from wounds suffered during clashes in Riyadh in July or September. Diplomats said Oteibi's raised profile could be a declaration he was taking charge of operations in Saudi Arabia, which says it is winning its 18-month battle with militants who have attacked foreigners and security forces. Although there have been no major attacks in the kingdom for more than five months, several foreigners have been shot dead since then and diplomats say they believe Al Qaeda is planning further strikes.