Senior al-Qaeda leader reportedly killed in Afghanistan

Reports say Al-Qaeda's number three leader and Afghan operations chief, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, has been killed. Mr Yazid, also known as Sheikh Said al-Masri, died along with his wife and three children, Islamist websites said, quoting a statement from al-Qaeda. US officials say they believe he was killed recently in the tribal areas of Pakistan in an American drone attack. Previous reports of his death have been wrong, but this is the first time al-Qaeda has acknowledged such claims. American officials often refer to the Egyptian-born militant as the main conduit to leader Osama Bin Laden. As al-Qaeda's operational commander in Afghanistan, he is believed to have had a hand in everything from finances to operational planning.