RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27 (UPI) -- An al-Qaida member on Saudi Arabia's list of most wanted terrorists was killed by international forces in Afghanistan, security forces announced.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan announced that Saleh Naif Eid al-Makhlafi was killed. He was No. 35 on the list of 85 most-wanted terrorists by Saudi Arabia in 2009.
A spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry told London's pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that Riyadh was looking to confirm the ISAF reports.
ISAF described the 29-year-old Saudi as a "senior leader" of al-Qaida who was involved in logistics and training for the terrorist cabal in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
If his death is confirmed by Saudi officials, the list of 85 would be down to fewer than 70 names since the list was made public in 2009. Several operatives on the list have reportedly surrendered to Saudi authorities, the London newspaper adds.
Riyadh has forwarded its most-wanted list to international police force Interpol. More than half of the men listed, however, are thought to be in Saudi Arabia.
