Heart attack kills 'al-Qaida leader'

The alleged top al-Qaida operative in Lebanon, who was captured last week in a security operation that broke up a terrorist network, died of a heart attack today, hospital and security officials said.

Ismail Mohammed al-Khatib was rushed from his prison cell to the Bahanes Hospital, 20 miles north-east of Beirut, after suffering a heart attack, but doctors were unable to save his life, the hospital said.

Lebanese security officials confirmed Khatib’s death of a heart attack.

Khatib was one of two alleged top al-Qaida members captured by Lebanese authorities last week along with 10 other suspects.

The other one was Ahmed Salim Mikati.