Leader of al Qaida in Yemen dead in unclear circumstances

Khalid al-Batarfi (Rewards For Justice, U.S. Department of State, via AP)

The leader of Yemen’s branch of al Qaida is dead, the militant group has announced.

Khalid al-Batarfi had a five million dollar (£3.9 million) bounty on his head from the US government over leading the group in the Arabian Peninsula, long considered the most dangerous branch still operating after the killing of founder Osama bin Laden.