Pakistani forces have killed an Egyptian al-Qaida terrorist wanted by the United States over the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya, a Cabinet minister said Thursday. | Vultures at the ready, accordian lady warming up the crowd, fat lady on standby in dressing room |
"I confirm the death of this Egyptian terrorist," the minister said without elaborating further.
Another senior Pakistani intelligence official said military reports from the field indicated that Atwah had been killed in the attack, in which at least six other militants were believed killed. The official also declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the case. U.S. authorities have posted a $5 million bounty for Atwah, who is accused of involvement in the Aug. 7, 1998, bombings of the embassies in Tanzania and Kenya that killed 12 Americans and more than 200 Africans. It was unclear when Atwah may have come to Pakistan, but there had been speculation that he had previously lived in Somalia under the protection of local warlords.
Neither FBI officials in Washington nor U.S. or Egyptian diplomats in Islamabad were able to confirm if Atwah had been killed.