Bin Laden's brother-in-law killed
POSTED: 1246 GMT (2046 HKT), January 31, 2007
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The brother-in-law and former best friend of Osama bin Laden was killed while on a business trip to Madagascar, family members have told CNN.
Jamal Khalifa's family told CNN they were not sure of the details of the Saudi businessman's death but said all his possessions had been stolen.
Khalifa had arranged the trip in order to straighten out his affairs regarding a heavy plant equipment business he owned on the Indian Ocean island.
He had not visited Madagascar in five or six years and was concerned his equipment had been taken without payment, his family said.
Khalifa had also at one time worked to free a Madagascan friend from internment at Guantanamo Bay.
Khalifa's family told CNN they did not believe Saudi claims he had been killed by locals.
The Associated Press, quoting a telephone interview with Khalifa's brother, Malek Khalifa, said 25-30 armed men had broken into his house and killed him as he slept.
CNN's Nic Robertson said Khalifa's death raised questions over whether it happened as reported by Saudi officials, or, as his family feared, through more sinister means.
"Was he killed by bin Laden's associates for speaking out against the al Qaeda leader or, equally feasibly, by an international intelligence agency settling an old score?" said Robertson.
Khalifa had recently denied claims that he funded the Philippine-based Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf.
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POSTED: 1246 GMT (2046 HKT), January 31, 2007
Article Link
The brother-in-law and former best friend of Osama bin Laden was killed while on a business trip to Madagascar, family members have told CNN.
Jamal Khalifa's family told CNN they were not sure of the details of the Saudi businessman's death but said all his possessions had been stolen.
Khalifa had arranged the trip in order to straighten out his affairs regarding a heavy plant equipment business he owned on the Indian Ocean island.
He had not visited Madagascar in five or six years and was concerned his equipment had been taken without payment, his family said.
Khalifa had also at one time worked to free a Madagascan friend from internment at Guantanamo Bay.
Khalifa's family told CNN they did not believe Saudi claims he had been killed by locals.
The Associated Press, quoting a telephone interview with Khalifa's brother, Malek Khalifa, said 25-30 armed men had broken into his house and killed him as he slept.
CNN's Nic Robertson said Khalifa's death raised questions over whether it happened as reported by Saudi officials, or, as his family feared, through more sinister means.
"Was he killed by bin Laden's associates for speaking out against the al Qaeda leader or, equally feasibly, by an international intelligence agency settling an old score?" said Robertson.
Khalifa had recently denied claims that he funded the Philippine-based Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf.
More on link
