Al-Qa'ida No 2 Sakhr al-Taifi dies in Afghan air strike

Al-Qa'ida's second in command in Afghanistan has been killed in an air strike in eastern Kunar province, Nato says.

Sakhr al-Taifi, also known as Mushtaq and Nasim, was responsible for commanding foreign insurgents and directing attacks against Nato and Afghan forces, the alliance said.

He frequently travelled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al-Qa'ida leaders and ferrying in weapons and fighters.

The air strike that killed Taifi and another al-Qa'ida militant took place on Sunday in Kunar's Watahpur district, the coalition said yesterday. It added that no civilians were killed.