RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The Saudi authorities aborted an attempt by al-Qaida figure Saleh al-Oufi to escape to Iraq before he was killed in clashes with police last week.
The Daily al-Watan Tuesday quoted security sources as saying al-Oufi, who headed al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia, and several members of his cell wanted to join Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who heads al-Qaida in Iraq.
The attempt was aborted on the eve of the clashes in Medina in western Saudi Arabia in which al-Oufi and another terror suspect were killed.
The sources said security agencies seized a man and his family who were supposed to cover up for al-Oufi and his cell and help them travel to the province of Jouf as a prelude to crossing into Iraq.
By infiltrating the cell, security agencies were informed of the arrangements for smuggling al-Oufi out of the country and were tipped about his whereabouts, the sources added.
In addition to killing al-Oufi and his accomplice, Mohammed Awida, a former Karate national champion, Saudi police captured nine members of his cell in Medina.
