Pakistan probes a strike on al-Qaida

Officials launch investigation into the killing of senior leader

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan is investigating reports that a CIA missile strike killed a senior al-Qaida commander as he traveled in a tribal region near the Afghan border, security officials said on Wednesday.

If confirmed, Sheikh Fateh al-Masri's death would be the covert United States missile program's latest blow to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. Al-Masri is believed to have replaced Mustafa al-Yazid, who was killed in a missile strike in May and characterized by the group as its No 3 commander.