Radical US-born cleric Awlaqi killed

A senior US official confirmed Awlaqi's death after an announcement by the Yemeni defense ministry.

"I can confirm ... he's dead," the senior administration official said, without providing further details.

In Sanaa, the defense ministry said Awlaqi was killed on Friday morning but did not elaborate on the circumstances of his death.

Tribal sources said that Awlaqi, who was on a US wanted list, was killed in an air strike on two vehicles in Marib province, an al-Qaida stronghold in eastern Yemen, early in the day.

Several other suspected al-Qaida operatives were also reported killed.

One tribal source said that the plane that launched the sir strike was likely to have been American.

"US planes have been flying overhead for days now," said the tribal source who requested anonymity.

"Then this morning, at about 9:30, what appeared to be a US aircraft fired on the two cars Awlaqi and his fellow operatives are believed to have been traveling in," he said.

US Republican Representative Peter King, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, called Awlaqi's killing "a great success in our fight against al-Qaida and its affiliates".

"For the past several years, Al-Awlaqi has been more dangerous even than Osama bin Laden had been. The killing of al-Awlaqi is a tremendous tribute to President (Barack) Obama and the men and women of our intelligence community," he said.

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