The deputy chief of Al Qaeda's North Africa wing, believed to be the group's operational leader, was killed along with two other rebels in a gun battle with Algerian troops, local newspapers said.
Hareg Zoheir, also known as Sofiane abu Fasila, was said to be the second in command of the group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and suspected of being behind the planning of most of the suicide bombings in Algeria in recent months.
