Last update - 00:00 28/11/2006
Syria: Islamic militant leader dies in suicide bombing at border
By News Agencies
A Syrian leader of an Islamic militant group blew himself up at a Syrian-Lebanese border checkpoint following an exchange of fire with Syrian security forces on Tuesday, the Syrian government said.
A Syrian Interior Ministry statement said Omar Abdullah, 28-year-old leader of the Islamic militant group "Tawheed and Jihad", was attempting to cross to Lebanon at the Jdeidet Yabous border post with forged documents.
The statement said he opened fire on security forces and attempted to escape.
After a chase, Abdullah detonated his explosive belt, killing himself and wounding two members of the Syrian security forces.
The Interior Ministry statement said nine forged identification documents were found on the militant, who also used the alias Omar Hamra.
The crossing is about seven minutes' drive from the Lebanese border point of Masnaa on the highway linking the Lebanese capital Beirut with Syria's capital, Damascus.
Hamra's wife was arrested.