The leader of Al Qaida was said to have escaped a dragnet by Saudi security forces.
Saudi security sources said Saleh Al Awfi had not been trapped in the 60-hour siege of an Al Qaida stronghold last week. Two leading Al Qaida operatives died in the battle in the northern town of Al Rass, but Al Awfi was not identified as among the 15 insurgents killed. "Al Awfi is still a fugitive whom the authorities are searching for and continue to track," Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Mansour Al Turki said.
Earlier, Saudi opposition and security sources said Al Awfi was one of those killed in the battle. The opposition sources said Al Awfi's body had been found burned in a wheelchair. |