The Saudi branch of the Al Qaeda network has a new leader, Saud bin Hamoud al-Otaibi, one of the most wanted "terror suspects" on the run, according to reports.
Otaibi was identified as the new chief of "Al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula" on one of the main Internet sites used by Islamists, where a biography of him was also posted.
Otaibi signed the editorial of the latest issue of the group's online magazine, Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Jihad), but without identifying himself as leader.
An audio message marking the current Ramadan, accessible on the Islamist website, purported to have come from Otaibi. The man, who spoke about Jihad and called on Saudi activists to join the anti-U.S. fight in Iraq, did not say he was the new Al-Qaeda chief in Saudi Arabia.
However, the Washington-based Saudi Institute said in an email received by AFP that Otaibi, aged 33, had become Al Qaeda's new chief in the kingdom, saying this "confirmed" its earlier claim that former leader Saleh al-Oufi had been killed by Saudi security forces. (Albawaba.com)
