Al-Qaeda in Yemen confirms death of leader

Al-Qaeda in Yemen has confirmed the death of its leader Nasir al-Wuhayshi in a US drone strike, in a video statement posted online.


Wuhayshi was number two in the global jihadist organisation.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula also said it chose its military chief Qassem al-Rimi as its new leader, in the statement posted by al-Qaeda's Al-Malahem media arm and dated 15 June.Wuhayshi "was killed in a US drone attack that targeted him along with two other mujahedeen," who were also killed, according to the video statement.

It said that a number of al-Qaeda chiefs met and chose Rimi as Wuhayshi's successor.

AQAP is behind several plots against the United States, including an attempt to blow up a US commercial airliner on Christmas Day 2009.