An Al-Qaeda commander ranked the third most senior leader in Osama bin Laden's network was killed in a tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, President Pervez Musharraf said yesterday.

Abu Hamza Rabia, an Egyptian credited with heading Al-Qaeda's international operations, was among five people killed in an explosion at a house where they were hiding in North Waziristan on Thursday.

Rabia, in his 30s, took over the number three spot, behind bin Laden and his Egyptian deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, after the capture of Abu Faraj Farj al Liby in Pakistan in May, US and Pakistani security officials said.

Rabia was involved in plots to attack the United States and his death was a serious blow for Al-Qaeda, according to a US counter-terrorism official in Washington.

"After Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri, Rabia was the most senior Al-Qaeda official for international terrorism planning," the official told Reuters.

"Rabia served in the leadership group as chief of international operations planning. His international portfolio included planning attacks against the United States," the official said.

Rabia's death was confirmed by Musharraf on his arrival in Kuwait on an official visit, although the Pakistani military has not found the body and are relying on intelligence reports and intercepted messages between Al-Qaeda members.

"Yes indeed, 200 per cent. I think he was killed the day before yesterday if I'm not wrong," Musharraf told reporters.

Pakistani intelligence sources said two of those killed with Rabia were also believed to be Arabs, while other two dead were boys related to the tribesman harbouring them.

Rabia was involved in two attempts on Musharraf's life in December 2003 and security forces had been hunting him for some time, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.

Rabia was killed in Haisori, a village near Mir Ali in the tribal agency, just 30 km from Afghanistan where US forces are based.