Alleged Al Qaeda Chief Killed

Saudi security forces killed two militants, including one both U.S. and Saudi authorities believe was al Qaeda's chief of operations on the Arabian Peninsula, in a shootout in the capital of Riyadh on Monday.

A Saudi Interior Ministry statement said the two were killed in the al-Nasseem neighborhood, in eastern Riyadh, in an exchange of fire with security forces on Monday afternoon.

Abu Hazim al-Sha'ir, a Yemeni believed to be about 30, was the senior al Qaeda figure in the region, a U.S. counterterrorism official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The official said his death represented a "major, very significant blow" to al Qaeda. "This guy was involved in ongoing terrorist planning and plotting," the official added.

The Saudi Interior Ministry identified the dead as Khaled Ali Haj, a Yemeni, and Ibrahim bin Abdul-Aziz bin Mohammed al-Mezeini, a Saudi. Haj is another named used by Abu Hazim, according to the U.S. counterterrosim official, who ranked third on the government's list of 26 most wanted militants. The other dead militant's name was not on the list.

The government says the suspects were riding in a vehicle and refused to stop for a spot identification check by members of the security forces. Police say the men began shooting at the security forces, who returned fire, killing both suspects.

None of the Saudi police officers are reported to have been injured.

The Saudi statement said six hand grenades, two AK-47 assault rifles, three 9mm pistols and $137,000 in cash were found in the vehicle.

Abu Hazim is believed to have trained in al Qaeda's Afghan camps in 1999 and later to have served as bin Laden's bodyguard. Before Sept. 11, he traveled frequently to the Arabian Peninsula, to Southeast Asia and to Afghanistan.

U.S. officials have also tied him to the May 12 bombings of residential complexes in Riyadh and possibly to some Saudi-based planning of operations targeting the United States.

The Saudi government's list of 26 militants are wanted in connection with Riyadh bombings last year that killed 51 people.

The government is offering a reward of $267,000 for information leading to the arrest of any suspect on the list.

ArabNews.com says Monday's shootings reduces the number of suspects at large to 21.

Two militants from the list were killed last year in clashes with the security forces: one at a gas station in the same neighborhood where this week's shootout happened. The second man at first appeared to survive his gun battle with police, but according to ArabNews.com, authorities last month realized what happened, when his grave was discovered.

Only one person on the Saudi government's suspect list is known to have surrendered to authorities - shortly after another suspect was shot to death, a few weeks after the list was first announced last December.