Nov. 25, 2002

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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ALGIERS, Algeria - An Islamic militant killed by Algerian security forces in a raid two months ago has been identified as a top al-Qaida operative for Africa, Algeria's official news agency reported Monday.

Emad Abdelwahid Ahmed Alwan, alias Abu Mohammed, was shot and killed in the Sept. 12 raid in the eastern Batna region, about 450 kilometers (270 miles) east of the capital Algiers, the official APS news agency reported.

The body of Alwan, a native of Yemen, was identified after a two-month investigation by government experts, the report said. He was a top al-Qaida leader for northern and western Africa, it said.

Algeria's military is fighting a 10-year insurgency by Islamic militants, which has claimed more than 120,000 lives. Raids by soldiers on suspected militant hideouts are common.

-- Anonymous, November 25, 2002