February 11, 2009 2:32 PM
- Text
Exclusive: Al Qaeda No. 2 Injured?
(CBS)
Ayman al-Zawahiri - the second most powerful leader in al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden's No. 2 - may be critically wounded and possibly dead, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports exclusively.
CBS News has obtained a copy of an intercepted letter from sources in Pakistan, which urgently requests a doctor to treat al-Zawahiri. He's believed to be somewhere in Pakistan's remote tribal areas of Pakistan.
The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."
[Following the broadcast of this report, Taliban officials denied that al-Zawahiri was injured or killed in any missile attack.]
The letter is reportedly written by local Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, whose signature and seal are visible on the letter.
The Taliban logo and the Mehsud's seal have been confirmed by experts as legitimate.
The letter is dated July 29 - one day after a U.S. air strike that killed al Qaeda weapons expert Abu Khabab al-Masri, and five other Arabs in South Waziristan.
U.S. authorities have said they do not have information that al-Zawahiri was present during Monday's strike, or that he was injured.
However, a counter-intelligence expert and other U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that the U.S. is looking into reports that al-Zawahiri is dead.
Logan reports that while there have been false death rumors regarding al-Zawahiri before, there have been no denials yet from Pakistan, the U.S. or al Qaeda Web sites.
CBS News has obtained a copy of an intercepted letter from sources in Pakistan, which urgently requests a doctor to treat al-Zawahiri. He's believed to be somewhere in Pakistan's remote tribal areas of Pakistan.
The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."
[Following the broadcast of this report, Taliban officials denied that al-Zawahiri was injured or killed in any missile attack.]
The letter is reportedly written by local Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, whose signature and seal are visible on the letter.
The Taliban logo and the Mehsud's seal have been confirmed by experts as legitimate.
The letter is dated July 29 - one day after a U.S. air strike that killed al Qaeda weapons expert Abu Khabab al-Masri, and five other Arabs in South Waziristan.
U.S. authorities have said they do not have information that al-Zawahiri was present during Monday's strike, or that he was injured.
However, a counter-intelligence expert and other U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that the U.S. is looking into reports that al-Zawahiri is dead.
Logan reports that while there have been false death rumors regarding al-Zawahiri before, there have been no denials yet from Pakistan, the U.S. or al Qaeda Web sites.
Latest Now in CBS Evening News
- Entire staff removed at L.A. elementary school
- Evening News Online, 02.07.12
- For rebel-held Syrian towns, constant funerals
- Fans celebrate 200 years of Charles Dickens
- Discrimination found within Air Marshal Service
- Inside Syrian rebels training session
- 200 years on, it's still a Dickensian world
- Obama signs off on Super PAC support
- Santorum expecting strong finish in Colo., Minn.
- Obama contraceptive controversy
- Fed. court rules CA Prop. 8 unconstitutional
- Report cites air marshals for sexism, harassment
- Evening News Online, 02.06.12
- Queen Elizabeth II through the ages
- Inside look into Federal Air Marshal training
- Home heating costs on the rise
- Gingrich campaigning for Colo. comeback
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
- Prosecutors want Sandusky kept indoors pre-trial
- Study: Ocean fish may have freshwater ancestor
- Oil rises to near $99 after US crude supply drop
- Asia stocks up following surge on Wall Street
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
