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Islamist cleric Anwar Awlaki killed in Yemen

Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen (Oct 2008)  
US officials said Anwar al-Awlaki had played a significant role in attacks on US interests
US-born radical Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a key al-Qaeda leader, has been killed in Yemen, the country's defence ministry said.
Unnamed US officials confirmed he had died in a US drone strike, but gave no further details.
Awlaki, of Yemeni descent, has been on the run in Yemen since December 2007.
The US named him a "global terrorist" and said he had played a "significant role" in plots to blow up US airliners and use poison to kill US citizens.
President Barack Obama is said to have personally ordered his killing.
Yemen's defence ministry statement said only that Awlaki had died in Khashef in Jawf province, about 140km (87 miles) east of the capital, Sanaa, "along with some of his companions".
US and Yemeni officials later named one of those as Samir Khan, also a US citizen but of Pakistani origin, who produced an online magazine promoting al-Qaeda's ideology.
The death was also announced on Yemeni TV.
Local tribal leaders told the AFP news agency that Awlaki had been moving around within Yemen in recent weeks to evade capture. Local people told AP he had been travelling between Jawf and Marib provinces when he died.
Unnamed US official said Awlaki's convoy was hit by a US drone and jet strike.
One senior official told ABC News it was "a great day for America".
He said Awlaki had been "very operational, every day he was plotting".
US intelligence had had "a very intense focus on him" for some time, he said, were waiting for him to be away from civilians so they could strike.
BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says the killing, if confirmed, is significant, because Awlaki's use of modern media meant he was able to reach out and inspire people susceptible to radicalisation.
The reported death comes amid concerns in Washington about the impact of Yemen's political crisis on its ability to go after al-Qaeda militants.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh is facing a widespread protest movement, along with an armed insurrection by renegade army units and tribal fighters.
Mr Saleh, who was injured three months ago when his residence was shelled, returned last week after treatment in Saudi Arabia.
He said in an interview published on Thursday that he will not stand down, as promised in a deal brokered by Gulf States, if his opponents are allowed to stand in elections to succeed him.

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