Obama: al Awlaki death proof "no safe havens"
U.S. President Barack Obama called the death of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, a U.S.-born cleric, was "another significant milestone" in efforts to defeat al Qaeda and its allies.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama, saying: (English):
"This is further proof that al Qaeda and its affiliates will have no safe haven anywhere in the world."
Awlaki, identified by U.S. intelligence as "chief of external operations" for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed in a CIA drone attack in a remote Yemeni town, U.S. officials said.
In Yemen's capital Sanaa Deputy information minister Abdu al-Jandi said the killing will have a major impact on al Qaeda.
SOUNDBITE: Deputy information minister Abdu al-Jandi, saying: (Arabic):
"For sure, this operation will have a great impact on the future of al-Qaeda. I am sure that al-Qaeda and their leaders will review their thinking and will realize that violence is not appropriate in a country that is pursuing democracy and political parties. They will get rid of violence and terrorism because there is no place in today's world for terrorism like this."
One political analyst in Yemen, Mohammed al-Asaadi, says that while the killing of Awlaki may be a blow to al-Qaeda, it would do nothing to change the network's basic ideology.
SOUNDBITE: Political analyst Mohammed al-Asaadi, saying: (English):
"The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki today is a big hit and crash of the al-Qaeda group in Yemen. However, that doesn't mean that al-Qaeda will be eradicated. It is a theology that needs to be fought, it is a theology that has to be contained, not only people or persons that have to be killed,"
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has not acknowledged Awlaki's death
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama, saying: (English):
"This is further proof that al Qaeda and its affiliates will have no safe haven anywhere in the world."
Awlaki, identified by U.S. intelligence as "chief of external operations" for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed in a CIA drone attack in a remote Yemeni town, U.S. officials said.
In Yemen's capital Sanaa Deputy information minister Abdu al-Jandi said the killing will have a major impact on al Qaeda.
SOUNDBITE: Deputy information minister Abdu al-Jandi, saying: (Arabic):
"For sure, this operation will have a great impact on the future of al-Qaeda. I am sure that al-Qaeda and their leaders will review their thinking and will realize that violence is not appropriate in a country that is pursuing democracy and political parties. They will get rid of violence and terrorism because there is no place in today's world for terrorism like this."
One political analyst in Yemen, Mohammed al-Asaadi, says that while the killing of Awlaki may be a blow to al-Qaeda, it would do nothing to change the network's basic ideology.
SOUNDBITE: Political analyst Mohammed al-Asaadi, saying: (English):
"The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki today is a big hit and crash of the al-Qaeda group in Yemen. However, that doesn't mean that al-Qaeda will be eradicated. It is a theology that needs to be fought, it is a theology that has to be contained, not only people or persons that have to be killed,"
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has not acknowledged Awlaki's death
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.