Al-Qaeda leader killed in Yemen

A tribal leader has said that Fahd al-Quso, wanted in connection with the bombing of an American warship in 2000, was killed by two missiles fired from a pilotless aircraft.

His death was confirmed by al-Qaeda and Yemen's embassy in the US. At least one other man died in the strike.

The US had offered a $5m (€3.8m) reward for information leading to his capture.

A US official told AFP news agency that al-Quso had been planning further attacks against the US and Yemen.

The American warship, USS Cole was attacked in October 2000 in the Yemeni port of Aden. Militants in a boat packed with explosives blew a hole in the destroyer's side, killing 17 US sailors and wounding 40.

The US has never formally acknowledged the use of drones against Yemeni al-Qaeda suspects, but is thought to have carried out eight other attacks of this kind so far this year.

In April, The Washington Post newspaper said that the CIA was asking for authorisation to carry out more drone strikes in Yemen.