Laden’s deputy confirmed dead

ISLAMABAD, Sunday - The Taliban on Sunday confirmed that Mohammad Atef, a deputy of suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, was killed by US airstrikes, the Afghan Islamic Press reported. The Pakistan-based news agency said the death of Atef, reported to be the military commander of bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network, was confirmed by Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan. The killing of Atef, accused of playing a key role in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 5,000 people, was first reported by the Pentagon on Friday. “Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef has confirmed to AIP the death of Osama bin Laden’s deputy Mohammad Atef, who is also known as Abu Hafs.” Zaeef was quoted as saying that Atef was “martyred in the US bombing of Kabul,” but he gave no other details. Analysts said the death of Atef, considered a successor to bin Laden should anything happen to the Saudi millionaire, represented a serious blow to the al-Qaeda and proof it cannot escape US wrath. A senior US military official, Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem, said on Friday that Atef’s loss means bin Laden “is now going to feel much less secure.” “And then looking at it from my perspective, I see that as one notch closer of this noose tightening,” said Stufflebeem, deputy director of operations for the US joint military staff. Atef was also wanted in the US as an organiser of the embassy bombings in 1998, which killed 224 people, including 12 Americans. The US placed a five million dollar reward on his head. The tall, bearded former Egyptian policeman was close to bin Laden. His daughter was married to one of bin Laden’s sons. A Pakistani source close to bin Laden said Atef’s death “will be a huge blow not only to Osama but also to his network.” “He was an Egyptian and he has a very long association with Osama. Osama always trusted him and he was taking care not only of military affairs, but organization affairs as well,” the source said. Meanwhile, a British Defence Ministry spokesman in London denied on Saturday any major rift with the alliance, although there may be “some difficulties” that would have to be negotiated. The spokesman specifically rejected reports that the Royal Marine detachment already in Bagram had been told to leave. “We can confirm that we have not had any such approach from the Northern Alliance leadership and that none of our troops will be returning home,” he said. Ousted Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who returned to Kabul on Saturday after five years in exile, said his administration had no objection to foreign troops. ends